Goals of the Compassion Ministry
The Compassion Ministry at Grace Baptist Church seeks to encourage our church to love and serve our neighbours and to make friends. This is so that we can tell our friends about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through these platforms for service, we can help meet the practical needs of our neighbours, get to know them and to build friendships. In the course of these building these relationships, we pray for opportunities to tell our friends about our best friend Jesus Christ and his good news. This good news that Jesus came to seek and save the lost and to die for his friends.
If you are wondering about the Compassion Ministry, you can read an article: “Why Show Compassion?” here.
Areas of service
(Due to the current COVID restrictions, some of these outreach opportunities are on hold, or are taking different forms.)
We have the following Compassion Ministry platforms where you can participate in:
1. Tuition Ministry
Our team of volunteers help the children from our neighbourhood with homework support every Wednesday evenings from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. We will take a break during the school holidays. If you are interested in helping teach the children and help them with their school-work, and building a friendship with them and their families, please contact either Patsy at lslow@singnet.com.sg or Pastor Ollie at oliverchia@gracebaptistchurch.sg.
2. Gracehaven
We partner with the children’s’ home, run by the Salvation Army, in two areas. Firstly, we organise an outing on a Saturday, about once every two months, for about 10-15 children. We bring them to various places of interest in Singapore. We end these outings with a Bible-talk. Secondly, we also help at the Gracehaven Family Service, a chapel-like service held every last Thursday evening of the month from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm. We aim to use this opportunity to make friends with the children. If you are interested in befriending these children, please contact either Cheryl at Clyrehc@hotmail.com or Pastor Ollie at oliverchia@gracebaptistchurch.sg.
3. Gladiolus Place
We partner with the Girls’ home just across from us in various areas. In 2023, we hope to provide home-cooked dinners once every two months. We are looking for volunteer teams to provide the meals and also need befrienders to build relationships for gospel opportunities. If you’re interested, please email Felice Wong (felicewst13@gmail.com) or Pastor Ollie at (oliverchia@gracebaptistchurch.sg).
You can read more about Gladiolus Place in this article “Compassion Ministry Focus: Gladiolus Place” here.
4. LoveAid (JiaLe)
We partner with LoveAid in their JiaLe outreach and community work with the Elderly in our MacPherson Neighbourhood. We currently volunteer with their JiaLe Coffee Club, which takes place on every Wednesdays, from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Our volunteers go and help twice a month. We are also also exploring other ways to provide practical help for these Elderly, particularly in areas of wellness and health. If you are interested in making friends with the Elderly in our neighbourhood through this platform, please contact Won Lee at wlkiew162@gmail.com or Pastor Ollie at oliverchia@gracebaptistchurch.sg.
5. Guest Workers Outreach
GBC has partnered with the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO) to reach out to our guest workers and meet their needs, seeking to build relational bridges. We have also "adopted" a factory-converted dormitory in the Tannery area where we will be providing additional support and delivery of fruits and some necessities. To find out more, read Ps Oliver's article on Loving the "Strangers" in Our Midst.
For more information about how you can help, please email Pastor Ollie at oliverchia@gracebaptistchurch.sg.
If you would like to find out more about the Compassion Ministry or are keen to be involved, you can contact Pastor Ollie at oliverchia@gracebaptistchurch.sg.