(L-R) Mr Eden Liew (NCCS), Mr Muhammad Nasir Johari (MUIS), Dr Roland Chia (Ethos), Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian (NCCS), Bishop Philip Lim (NCCS President), Ustaz Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir (Mufti of Singapore), Mr Azree Rahim (MUIS), Dr Leow Theng Huat (Ethos), Rev Dr Edmund Fong (Ethos), Rev Dr Jeremy-Joe Tan (Ethos), Ms Shalynn Siow (NCCS).
Dear Members and Friends of NCCS,
Between the Cross and the Resurrection –
Reclaiming the Church’s Witness in the Shadow of War
As tensions escalate once again in the Middle East, the world is overshadowed by war and uncertainty. It is in such a historical moment that the Church approaches Easter. This convergence compels us to ask: in a world profoundly shaped by sin, how should the Church faithfully embody the Gospel?
The Middle East is not only a geopolitical hotspot but the very stage upon which God’s redemptive history unfolds. From the covenant with Abraham to the finished work of Christ on the Cross, this land bears witness to the sovereign acts of God in history. Today’s conflicts reveal once again the depth of human depravity — sin is not merely individual, but embedded within communities, systems, and civilizations. War is its collective expression.
Yet the Cross is not a tragic accident in history, but the very center of God’s eternal decree. Christ’s death was neither incidental nor a failure but accomplished according to God’s definite plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23). The Cross testifies that true victory is not found in human power, but in God’s triumph over sin and death through His atoning sacrifice. As Romans 5:8 declares, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is not humanity seeking God, but God sovereignly extending grace.
The Resurrection, likewise, is not merely comfort—it is the declaration that the Kingdom of God has broken into history. The empty tomb proclaims that Christ has triumphed and that new creation has begun. The resurrection is not only future hope but today’s reality. Therefore, history is not ultimately governed by human power structures, but by the sovereign purposes of God.
For the Church in Singapore, this moment carries a distinct calling. In a multi-religious and multicultural society, the Church must neither retreat into a private faith nor be shaped by secular ideologies. The Church is the covenant community of God, called to be a visible witness of His Kingdom in the world.
First, the Church must recover its identity as a praying community—participating in Christ’s high priestly ministry of intercession for the nations.
Second, the Church must embody unity—not grounded in human strategy, but in our union with Christ. In a fractured world, such unity is itself a powerful testimony to the Gospel.
Third, the Church must faithfully engage the world. The Reformed tradition affirms that Christ is Lord over all. Therefore, in every sphere—education, media, business, and public life—believers are called to live under the lordship of Christ.
Easter is therefore not merely a remembrance, but a calling. The Church is called to live the life of the Cross through a life of holiness, suffering, and self-denial in a fallen world; and, the life of the Resurrection as a light in darkness, hope in despair, and God’s faithful witness in history <<—hope, renewal, and witness in the midst of darkness.>>.
History has shown that in times of crisis, humanity’s longing for hope intensifies. The real question is not whether the world will change, but whether the Church will remain faithful to her calling—to be a visible, God-centered, Gospel-shaped community.
As we journey again to the Cross and behold the empty tomb, may the Church in Singapore be renewed by the Word and the Spirit—
not by power, but by grace;
not by fear, but by faith;
not by conformity to the world, but by holiness in Christ.
Christ is risen—
this is not only a confession of faith,
but the sign that the Kingdom has come,
and the foundation and calling of the Church.
Rt Rev Dr Caleb Soo
Vice President | National Council of Churches of Singapore
亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹：
十架与复活之间：在战争阴影下重寻教会的见证
在中东冲突再度升温之际，世界再次被战争与不确定所笼罩。而就在这样的历史处境中，教会正迈向复活节。这种时刻的交汇，使我们不得不重新思考：在一个被罪深刻扭曲的世界中，教会当如何忠心活出福音？
中东不仅是地缘政治的焦点，更是神救赎历史展开之地。从神与亚伯拉罕立约开始，到基督在十字架上成就救赎，这片土地见证了神在历史中的主权作为。今天的冲突，再次揭示人类堕落的深层现实——罪不仅存在于个人，也渗透在群体、制度与文明之中。战争，正是这败坏本性的集体彰显。
然而，十字架并不是人类历史中的一场悲剧，而是神永恒旨意中的中心。基督的受死，不是偶然，也不是失败，而是神按着祂的定旨先见所成就的（徒2:23）。十字架向世界见证：真正的得胜，不在于人的权势，而在于神借着基督的代赎，胜过罪与死亡的权势。正如罗马书5:8所宣告：“基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死。”这不是人主动寻求神，而是神主动施恩的拣选与救赎。
复活同样不是单纯的安慰，而是神国度已经临到的宣告。空坟墓宣告：基督已经得胜，新的创造已经开始。复活不仅指向未来的盼望，更是现今历史中的真实。神的国已经在基督里展开，并且终将完全成就。因此，历史的终局不掌握在人类的权力结构中，而是在神绝对的主权之下。
对新加坡教会而言，这一时刻具有特别的召命。我们身处多元宗教与文化的社会中，教会既不能退缩于私人化的信仰，也不能被世俗意识形态所塑造。教会乃是神的圣约群体，被分别出来，在世上作“有形的见证”，彰显神国的真实。
首先，教会必须恢复其作为“代祷的群体”的身份。这不仅是属灵操练，更是参与基督大祭司的职分，在历史中为万民代求。
其次，教会必须活出合一。这合一不是建立在人的认同或策略之上，而是建立在“在基督里”的真实联合。一个分裂的世界，正需要看见一个被福音更新的群体。
再者，教会必须忠心进入世界。改革宗传统提醒我们，基督是万有的主（Christ is Lord over all）。因此，无论在教育、媒体、商业或公共领域，信徒都当以神的真理治理生活，活出“全人、全地归主”的见证。
复活节因此不仅是记念，更是召命。教会被呼召活出十字架的生命——在败坏的世界中持守圣洁、忍受苦难、舍己跟随主；同时也活出复活的生命——在黑暗中作光，在绝望中带来盼望，在历史中见证神国的真实。
历史一再证明，在动荡之中，人心对盼望的渴求最为迫切。然而，真正的问题不是世界是否会改变，而是教会是否忠于神的呼召，成为一个真实、可见、以神为中心的见证群体。
当我们再次走向十字架，并迎向空坟墓时，愿新加坡的教会被神的话语与圣灵重新更新——
不是倚靠权势，乃是倚靠神的恩典；
不是被恐惧驱动，乃是被信心引导；
不是效法世界，乃是在基督里分别为圣。
基督已经复活——
这不仅是信仰的宣告，
更是神国已经临到的记号，
也是教会存在的根基与使命。
苏立忠会正（博士）
新加坡基督教会理事会副主席
Below are the partnership opportunities between SLH and churches/organisations. We believe that by working more closely together, we can better support the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our people—especially the elderly, who make up a growing part of our congregations.
Community Outreach Collaboration
Partner with us on health talks, screenings (eg Community Health Post), and community engagement initiatives (eg Work out to Wellness Community exercise programme).
Volunteer & Skills-Based Contributions
Giveback through volunteering and professional expertise.
Weekly befriending and volunteering activities at the wards
Programme Sponsorship
Support patient care programmes such as mental wellness, rehabilitation, and caregiver support.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Contribute through corporate donations, fundraising campaigns & events (eg 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner), or members giving programmes.
Strategic Partnerships
Co-develop initiatives that strengthen community healthcare and patient wellbeing.
We look forward to exploring how we can collaborate to make a meaningful impact. Thanks and have a blessed week ahead!
Kind regards,
Wen Ting LEE
Corporate Communications and Partnerships
ST LUKE’S HOSPITAL
2 Bukit Batok Street 11 Singapore 659674
D: (65) 6895 3265
(Standing L-R) Rev Dr Edwin Tay (Trinity Theological College), Dr Ho Chiao Ek (Baptist Theological Seminary), Rev Dr Dennis Lum (TCA College), Rev Dr Chan Chong Hiok (East Asia School of Theology), Dr Lai Pak Wah (Biblical Graduate School of Theology), Dr Patrick Fung (Singapore Bible College).
(Seated L-R) Archdeacon Ven Daniel Wee (NCCS), Bishop Philip Lim (NCCS), Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian (NCCS), Rt Rev Dr Caleb Soo (NCCS).
(L-R) Mr Kelvin Lee (SLH), Mr Eden Liew (NCCS), Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian (NCCS), Mrs Mathews Thomas (St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral), Ms Lanny Widjaja (NCCS), Rev Mathews Thomas (St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral), Mr Chua Kok Wan (Prison Fellowship of Singapore), Bp Philip Lim (NCCS/Methodist Church in Singapore), Rev Vincent Morrison (King of Glory Church), A/Prof Tan Boon Yeow (SLH), Rev Samuel Morrison (King of Glory Church), Ms Jesslyn Ng (Koinonia Inclusion Network), Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun (NCCS), Ms Cherie Ng (Koinonia Inclusion Network), Rev Martin Yee (Lutheran Church in Singapore), Rev Maria Tok (City Harvest Church), Ms Shalynn Siow (NCCS)
