Coming together as family

For the past several years, OM in Singapore has been reaching out to the residents of the Geylang district — where many marginalised groups that do not reflect the glamorous and prosperous image that Singapore has internationally reside. The area is known for its food establishments, as well as Singapore’s red-light district and numerous dormitories for blue-collar migrant workers. 

Together with a few volunteers, the local ministry team regularly goes out onto the streets of Geylang to meet with the people in the area, particularly those in the sex industry, and migrant workers from countries like Bangladesh and India. 

Those they meet are invited to a cozy space that the OM team has set up nearby. There, people get to celebrate occasions like Mother’s and Father’s Day, as well as Lunar New Year (LNY). 

For the migrant workers, LNY is a novelty, and lo hei (a dish of raw fish slices, shredded vegetables and various condiments that are tossed communally while uttering auspicious phrases) is the highlight. Yen, a member of the local ministry team, joyfully remembered, “The workers have lots of fun learning how to use chopsticks, and the taste is new to them too. In return, they teach us how to eat using our hands.”

“The celebrations and fellowship we have with the workers show them that they are more than hired labourers in Singapore,” shared Siew, another member of the team. “They are our guests and people of dignity, included in our community.”

Over time, the relationships between the team and the migrant workers have deepened as they experience joy and sorrow together. Several times, when a worker's family member back home fell ill or had trouble, the OM team prayed for them. 

“[The migrant workers] wonder why we are so good to them,” shared Yen. “They make an effort to come to our monthly gatherings even if they have moved to another part of Singapore. One of them commented: ‘Once a month, we come together as family’.”

Just as Jesus ate with social outcasts like tax collectors, meals are frequently shared between the OM team and the marginalised groups of Geylang. 

Uncle Peter, an elderly man who runs a nearby brothel, was among the first to join the LNY meals. The holiday is typically celebrated with family, but many, like Uncle Peter in Geylang, are estranged from their families and have not shared a meal with them in a long time. 

As the OM team shared about Jesus with him, Uncle Peter has grown increasingly receptive. He even set aside a small section of his brothel for the OM team to conduct worship and share Bible stories with him and a few others every month. 

Siew said, “Uncle Peter is on a journey to Jesus. He doesn’t understand Jesus as the only Lord yet, but he is willing to get to know Him.”

The team shared that there are a few challenges with this ministry, such as working with several different cultures at once. Yet they have seen and sensed that people are ready to learn more about the Bible and are willing to have open, genuine conversations with the OM team. 

Pray for a spiritual breakthrough in the lives of the sex workers and brothel operators, that they will break free from sexual slavery and idol worship. There are many churches in the Geylang area. Pray for the churches to come alongside the OM team to reach the people in the area.