Dear Church,
When the Holy Spirit first conceived Focus 2020 ‘We Have Won’ into my spirit back in 2019, it became clear to me that this is so fundamental and crucial for every believer to know. Yet as simple as it is, many Christ-followers don’t get this truth because they are still living in defeat in their struggles and sin.
Yet in God’s word, we are called to be a new creation in Christ. Jesus didn’t just die; He also overcame death and resurrected. Change is now possible, we are not fighting for victory, we are fighting from victory!
Then COVID-19 hit the world. In these unprecedented pandemic times, some may have lost their jobs, experienced strained family relationships, and struggled with their studies.
Yet God specialises in turning bad things into blessings. In our movement, we see God bringing Focus 2020 to pass. I see our churches staying united and in community. I hear countless stories of Life Groups that are staying committed to grow deeper in God, looking out for those with financial and emotional needs, and reaching out and sharing the gospel to new people on online platforms. I know of people who gave generously even with the reduced resources they have and experienced supernatural joy and providence. Truly, the light of Christ shines the brightest when it’s the darkest. Truly, in Christ, we have won!
As God led us to our Focus 2021, the reminder is that Christ is our focal point, as we pivot and adapt to changes. We might establish new normals, but our God remains the same. Let us continue to shine God’s light to darkness and traffic the saving hope of Jesus wherever we are!
Senior Pastor Jeff Chong
STATS
We moved our services fully online from 21 March 2021. Singapore was in a circuit breaker up till 1 June, and we see our highest online service views in that quarter – an average of 7236 unique devices. This number fell to 4954 unique devices in Q4 2020 as part of the church returned for physical services and others met to worship as a Life Group at homes.
LOVE
NEIGHBOURS
LIFEGROUP ATTENDANCE
6719
GO LGs
3362
MAKE
DISCIPLES
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REGISTERED
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
BELONG CLASS
256
CONTRIBUTE CLASS
74
DISCIPLE CLASS
163
PLANT
CHURCHES
NUMBER OF LIFEGROUPS LOCALLY
823
868
NUMBER OF LIFEGROUPS GLOBALLY
551
STATS
We moved our services fully online from 21 March 2021. Singapore was in a circuit breaker up till 1 June, and we see our highest online service views in that quarter – an average of 7236 unique devices. This number fell to 4954 unique devices in Q4 2020 as part of the church returned for physical services and others met to worship as a Life Group at homes.
LOVE
NEIGHBOURS
LIFEGROUP ATTENDANCE
6719
GO LGs
3362
MAKE
DISCIPLES
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REGISTERED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
BELONG CLASS
256
CONTRIBUTE CLASS
74
DISCIPLE CLASS
163
PLANT
CHURCHES
NUMBER OF LIFEGROUPS LOCALLY
823
868
NUMBER OF LIFEGROUPS GLOBALLY
551
As a church we declared in 2020: I am made alive in Christ; I have victory by the cross!
We have Won because Jesus not only died on the Cross, He is risen and has overcome death! We need not be discouraged in our daily battles as we are not fighting for victory, we are fighting FROM victory.
‘Victory Cards’ were given to everyone to write down our commitment and prayer for breakthroughs in our personal, ministry, marketplace and relational areas of our lives. The victory cards were then mailed back to all in September, and we took time to celebrate how God has journeyed with us through 2020.
When this project was conceived, no one expected COVID to happen. With the sudden pandemic thrown into the mix, it was a great reminder from God to the church that our victory is not dependent on our circumstances, our victory is in Him!
Hear some victory stories
As a church we declared in 2020: I am made alive in Christ; I have victory by the cross!
We have Won because Jesus not only died on the Cross, He is risen and has overcome death! We need not be discouraged in our daily battles as we are not fighting for victory, we are fighting FROM victory.
‘Victory Cards’ were given to everyone to write down our commitment and prayer for breakthroughs in our personal, ministry, marketplace and relational areas of our lives. The victory cards were then mailed back to all in September, and we took time to celebrate how God has journeyed with us through 2020.
When this project was conceived, no one expected COVID to happen. With the sudden pandemic thrown into the mix, it was a great reminder from God to the church that our victory is not dependent on our circumstances, our victory is in Him!
Hear some victory stories
The Church in midst of a Pandemic
The Church in midst of a Pandemic
In January 2020, the COVID task force was set up to discuss the format of gathering for the church. In March, in light of the rising number of cases, Hope moved all our gatherings online.
The format of gathering may have changed, but the vision and the mission of the church remains the same. God brought new opportunities to reach out to people from as near as the ones who live next door, to people who live overseas.
Life Groups met on Zoom
Life Groups met on Zoom
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the usual format of gathering for life-groups. Members met on zoom to watch services together and had discussions after the service on weekends. Zoom LGs got creative during the mid weeks such as – creating new serving opportunities to involve members, extended fellowship with online-friendly games, ideation for birthday celebrations online. Hope is indeed better together, even online!
Teaching God’s word and
encouraging people spiritually
Teaching God’s word and
encouraging people spiritually
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many of us to spend more time online and re-adjust the way we often receive spiritual input. While many things remain unpredictable at this juncture – our pastors and leaders have adopted online initiatives to share God’s Word, reflections, and learnings to sharpen and encourage people spiritually.
COVID-19 has disrupted the livelihoods of some of us. COVID-19 Hope Fund was started in May 2020 to financially support our members and others who are affected. Hope Singapore pledged a seed fund of $100,000 and made a call for all who are able to give generously.
The church rose up to the call and gave a total of $308,480. The fund went directly to helping 168 individuals and families, supporting Hope Centre’s Home with Love programme, and helping the migrant workers through the COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition.
Global
The Global Care Pack provided some monetary help for our daughter churches to subsidise mobile data or zoom plans so that the work of God could still continue through digital means.
The churches could also use the finances to directly help the members, for example as seed fund for small businesses so that members can have a continued livelihood.
Despite the pandemic, God still moved powerfully globally. Joan, a leader serving in Hope Singapore Filipino relied on the Holy Spirit and started to do missions digitally. From 1 single Tiktoker for the first 3 months, this is US online LG has expanded to having 30 attendees within two LGs across 10 states in the US.
“The possibilities are limitless with God, whether it is physical or virtual! The field is ready,
He is only waiting for you! Take the step and Go!”
Christmas at Home
For the first time, we embarked on a loaded 2-day programme on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The programmes consist of different testimonies and formats – ranging from real stories of our members in short films to sharings by local artistes.
This provided various opportunities for many life-groups to do their own Christmas parties at home, thus getting to know new friends and neighbours and inviting them to hear the message of hope.
Indeed, the season of Christmas is about knowing the Person behind why we celebrate Christmas – and His name is Jesus.
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
INCOME
In 2020, we collected a total of $13.7 million (FY2019: $14.5 million). Tithes and thanksgiving offerings of $11.7 million made up 86% of the money we received. This amount had decreased slightly by $4K, and was used to fund all church activities.
Other offerings which made up 2% of money received, included Hope Fund giving and Mission offerings. We have raised a total of $308K for Hope Fund, and it was used to help our church members who were impacted financially by the COVID-19 situation.
Programme income comprised of fees charged for activities such as conferences, camps, classes and seminars. The fees collected are often insufficient to pay for the event expenses. The balance is paid for by our general income. In 2020 the programme income has dropped significantly as the church has cancelled big events such as conferences and camps due to the COVID-19 situation.
In 2020, the church has received a total of $912K of Job Support Scheme from the government, which explained the increase of other income.
ANALYSIS OF CHURCH EXPENSES
Total operating expenditure had decreased by 26% to $9.4 million (FY2019: $12.8 million). The main reason is due to closing of church physical services in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 situation.
Local Ministries, Events and Programming, and Global Missions expenses all have significant drop from 2019 as the ministries, programmes, conference/camps and mission travels were cancelled due to the pandemic. Building and Facilities also decreased by $834K due to decrease in rental and utilities expenses. Social and Giving saw and increase of 13% as the church was helping members who were in need financially due to the impact of COVID-19 situation.
The Church surplus for 2020 is $3.7 million (FY2019: Surplus $1.7 milllion)
Q&A
With reference to the Budget 2020 slide (page 32 of “AGM 2020 Presentation.pdf”), the $1.4 million of “Other Offerings” received in 2019 came from “This Is Home” campaign and members’ giving towards Missions.
In our original 2020 Budget which we came out late last year, we did budgeted for $200K of members’ giving towards Missions under “Other Offerings”. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we did a budget revision in April 2020. In this budget revision (which was the budget presented in the slides), we took out the budgeted members’ giving towards Missions ($200K), as we would like to adopt a more conservative approach in our income budgeting. This was done in view of the negative economic outlook.
As to whether there are any plans to request for “Other offerings”, in May 2020 the church started the COVID-19 Hope Fund campaign. The objective of this fund is to help those who are impacted financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation to the COVID-19 Hope Fund would be reflected under “Other Offerings” in the 2020 accounts.