A Testimony: Christmas Block Party 2025 @ 114A Ho Ching Road

Organising an outreach event that involves many volunteers and significant logistics can be stressful. There is always uncertainty: Will people come? Will the weather hold? Will everything fall into place?

As we prepared for the Christmas Block Party, we were reminded early on that this was not merely an event to be executed, but a spiritual work. With that conviction, we decided to begin an online prayer time three weeks before the outreach, committing ourselves to pray consistently and to “prepare the ground” before the actual day.

God’s Arrangement, Not Ours

This was our first outreach of this scale, and interestingly, many of the usual Block ICs were overseas at that time. Initially, this felt unsettling. However, as things unfolded, I began to sense that this was God’s intentional arrangement—bringing together people we had not typically worked with before.

It was a real privilege to serve alongside Hannah, who stepped in as the main coordinator. Though she was new to the work under Manna Bridge, she was incredibly proactive, sharp, and dependable. Working with someone who carries both initiative and humility made the journey joyful and encouraging.

Throughout the preparation, we held firmly to one truth: this event belonged to God, not us. He is sovereign. He knows who will turn up, and He even decides the weather. If He wanted snow to fall, it would happen.

 A Lesson in Faith

On the evening itself, I (Jinfay) was visiting residents at Block 112 with two sisters from the Chinese congregation, reminding and inviting them to come down. At 6:35 pm, rain suddenly began pouring. In my heart, I felt concerned—this would surely affect attendance.

But at 6:55 pm, the rain stopped.

Aunty Seline from the Dialect group said, “This is a test of our faith.” She was right. In that moment, I realised how small my faith was. I had hoped for a good turnout so that the church’s efforts would not feel “wasted.” But the numbers were never mine to manage. They belong to the Lord.

God does not need us to prove anything. He graciously allows us the privilege of serving His people.

Serving as One Body

This outreach was especially meaningful because it reflected the beauty of the church working as one body across languages and generations.

We had new members from the Goshen Committee stepping up as ICs, alongside faithful long-time servants like Derrick (Kin Cheong), who led the Befrienders team. JCCians from the English, Chinese, and Dialect congregations served shoulder to shoulder—welcoming, listening, playing, and loving our residents.

We would like to acknowledge those who served in the different roles with their willing hearts and giftings:

Spiritual Oversight & Ministers
Rev Ximi
Bishop Anthony

Adviser
Caleb Lee

Overall Coordinators
Wenwei
Hannah
Jinfay

Floor Manager
Jeremy

Emcees
Bryan
Jonathan Goh

Emcees
Joanna
Peggy
Andrea
Amelia

Befrienders (IC & Team)
Derrick (IC)
Ps Isabel（淑节传道）
振子
勇升
清源
雪琴
友来
秀凤
Poh Kiat
Xavier
Jia Siang
Golda
Gideon
Jacqueline Woo
Nathaniel
Florence
Micah
Kent
Karthryn
Trina
Lissa
Peh En
Soon Eong
Ewe Ewe

Flea Market
Doris
Wong Mui

Games
The Boys’ Brigade Crew
S2S CG
Tony & Susan

Snack & Drinks Station
Budhi
Ina

Christmas Gallery
Hannah (IC)
Jonathan
Jiemin
Jonathan Khoo
W@ CG

Caroling Team
De Li
Kin Siong
Seline
Joo See
Julie
Zheng Zhen
Doris
Christina
Bee Teng
Henry
Karen
Joyce
Peggy
Theodore
Sacharissa

Musicians
Gabriel
Cassidy
Esther
Martin Cheah
Wilfred

AV
Boris
Edwin

Photographer & Videographer
Symon

Invitation & Visual Design
Jinfay

(Apologies if any names were missed)

A Memory of God’s Grace

It is our prayer that JCCians will hold a beautiful memory of how God provided for us on 20 December 2025—His grace that enabled us to step out of the four walls of the church and “go to the other side” to meet and serve the residents.

What God Spoke to Us Through This Outreach

What spoke to us most through this outreach, interestingly, was not only the residents, but the JCCians themselves, as we served together as one body of Christ.

Across the English, Chinese, and Dialect congregations, we saw people stepping beyond familiarity, roles, and comfort zones to serve together in unity. It was a beautiful picture of the church being the church—not defined by language or ministry boundaries, but by love, humility, and a shared mission: to be the light where there is darkness, a friend where there is loneliness, and a voice of hope where there are pain and uncertainty.

More importantly, we hope the residents saw something deeper—one church, across languages, united body of Christ, loving one another, so that through us, they may see God.

We are called to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Let us obey them today.

To Him be all glory.