CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP i

doug
jkiest
Blk. 10 B Braddell View
#11-08

Singapore 2057
Doug, Robyn, Nicole, and Andrea

February 1991
SINGAPORE CHRISTIAN CANAAN CHURCH

Back in 1969 a group of people from a local Methodist congregation decided to form their own

church and no longer be associated with the Methodist denomination. All these people spoke the
Cantonese dialect ofthe Chinese language. For many years they moved around to different places
of worship-other church buildings, a room at the YMCA-all the time saving their offerings with
the 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 church

building. Because oftheir years ofmoving around, once they had their own place, they agreedto
name their church the Singapore Christian Canaan Church . . . from wilderness wanderings to
entering the Promised Land!

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

For the next few years, the Englishspeaking congregation had a succession
of helpers who led their worship
services. The congregation grew to an
average attendance of 30, while the
Cantonese group remained with about
60 in attendance on a Sunday morning.

In 1987, the English-speaking congrega

tion asked Rich and Jo Sheeley to serve
with them as their preacher. The
Sheeleys came from Kansas, and, after
having served for a short-term as

oc

kU

missionaries in Thailand, arrived in

111

cc

a.

Singapore Christian Canaan Church's two congregations.

(Doug and Robyn are missing, but see ifyou can find Nicole
and Andrea.)

Singapore to work in evangelism. The

church began to grow to where, in little
time, they averaged 50 adults and a few
children. The Sheeleys introduced us to
the congregation and proposed the idea
of our becoming co-ministers of the
church with them. The congregation

agreed; so in August 1990, we began our j

tenure as co-ministers.

./

The reason we serve with the Sheeleys as co-|]iilmsters is because both famiHes also have

other ministries to perform in the larger Asic^i context. Rich heads up "Project Asia" for

Grood News Productions International, Jopliii^, Missouri, and Doug is the Asia Coordinator

for Christian Missionary Fellowship.

Just before we arrived, the Church set out hei long-range goals. Included was the idea that
the Church would grow to an average adult aj sndance of 65 by the end of 1990, 80 by the
len we arrived in July, the Church averaged
end of 1991,105 by 1992, and 125 by 1993,
ch having its highest attendance ever,
60 adults, ^ptember and October sawthe
reaching 83 adults one Sunday morning. We fncluded the year surpassing our goal of

averaging 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 to

surpassing our goals, we recently revised thei^ ... upwards.

Besides Doug and Rich serving as co-ministers, the Church has a full-time children's

worker, apart-time youth worker, and apartji^e secretary. The congregation is relatively
young in age with the married couples just b^inning to have children. (Would you believe
that Dougis one ofthe oldest people in the chijprch!) Most ofthe people have attended at

Jeast_some college, the mgority are_single, and the^average personal income_is higher than

that ofthe average Singaporean. In short, ouijfi is acongregation oiyuppies.

Doug gives about 15-20 hours a week to church activities. Robjm helps with the children's

program, where Nicole and Andrea participate! aswell. Recently, Nicole attended a
Christian 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. Andrea
sits in her Sunday School class and valiantly aptempts not to answer first all of the

questions asked by the teacher. Boththe girlsj love the Church, as do we. Singapore
Christiaii 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, and
we join with you, echoing the words of Jesus:
Kingdom Come."

Doug and Rob}^ Priest

2/91

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP

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doug and
robyn
Blk 10 B Braddell View #11-08

Singapore 2057

Doug, Robyn, Nicole, andAndrea

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FEllOmHl? PrayerNewsletter

October 1991

In the seventh month of the

lunar year, Chinese people all

suggests that there is a close

relationship between the

paper money has inscriptions

that say things like "Hell Bank

over the world celebrate the

different forms of existence.

Note" or "Currency for the

Hungry Ghost Festival. It is a

There is a continuum

Underworld." So that the

festive, colorful season.

encompassing humanity,
spirits and ghosts, animals,
and deity. When one dies
and goes to the
underworld, it is possible

ghosts will be able to live

comfortably, other treasures

Outdoor tables are covered

with red tablecloths (signif5dng

good luck), places are set, and

banquets are held for several
days in a row.

for these different forms

At the place settings are plates,

to move back and forth

along the continuum. If
one has lived a good life,

I
m
m

bowls, drinks, snacks, and

helpings of food. However, it is
only on the final day of the
celebration that living people
eat of the meals. On the other

he or she may become a

deity or an important
person in another life.

p
'

But if one has lived a

days the meals of food and

less than exemplary life,

drink are set for the hungry

ghosts to come and consume.

he may become an

animal.

The ghosts are welcomed to the

banquet areas with large
incense or joss sticks, some

This philosophy states

that when a person dies

over four feet tall and half a

foot in diameter.

Traditional Chinese philosophy

3-'^

'j

|L_i
Josssticks ready tobe litfor the Hungry Ghost Festival.

the soul is divided into three

parts. One part goes up to

heaven, one part goes to where
the body is buried or cremated,
and the third part rests in the

are also burned. Paper replicas

of homes, cars (usually Roll
Royces or Jaguars), computers
- and these days even video
recorders -- are burned.

ancestral tablets that are a

part of the family shrine,

The Hungry Ghost Festival

usually in the living room of

seeks to provide the ancestral

spirits with food. If food is not
provided, then spirits will be

the house.

Banquetsettingsfor theghosts.

It is the responsibility of the

living relatives to provide for
the deceased spirits on their
next journey. Thus, mock paper

hungry and angry. Angry

ghosts are feared. It is
important for the living

money is burned to provide the

spirits with finances to cover

ancestors' spirits, for if they do

not the spirits will be left to

the costs of the journey. The

roam on their own. A good

relatives to care for their

Chinese person will take care

of the spirits through
participation in such things as
the Hungry Ghost Festival, the
daily offering of incense, and
the care of an ancestor s tomb.

"Children, obey your parents in

the Lord, for this is right
Honor your father and mother."

Ephesians 6:1-2,
Chinese
Christians

Many Chinese Christians come

around the world

from families who continue

face the

practices such as this Hungry

challenging task

Ghost Festival. Most risk

of reconciling

displeasing and dishonoring

their parents if they choose not
to participate in such rituals of
the ancestors as prajdng at the
family shrine or the burning of

their faith in
Christ with both
their traditional
culture and the
culture of their

incense in front of the door to

the home. These Christians

present
community. Pray
for their
,

must find acceptable ways to

show reverence and respect to
their parents.

Fortunately, some aspects of .

filial piety, a major tenet of
Confucianism, find ample
support in the Bible. So while
Christian sons and daughters
choose to abstain from acts of

worship directed towards the

ancestors, they may seek to
attend to other non-religious
expressions of respect, such as
greeting elders, studying hard
so that their parents may be

'|

discernment
of God's will

in difficult

||

issues. Pray

T-5G2I7

that they will

be able to

promote

i
fsi w SI jffl

reverence for

Christ

through their
respect for

r
i

nfi

Chinese currency for the deceased spriits.

their families.

proud of their accomplish

ments, and contributing
financially to their parents.

Dougand Robyn'Priest

10/91
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INDIANAPOLIS. IN 46226-0306

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ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

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ilON

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rrOijoR
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iviLLE

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