Love My Block
God calls us to reach all people – every nation, tribe, and tongue. At Hope, we want to go beyond our natural circle of friends and family members, to also spread God’s love to those living around us – our neighbours.
When every Christian loves their block, every single person in Singapore has a chance to hear the gospel and experience the love of Christ!
Love My Block Campaign
90% of Singaporeans live in high-rise buildings behind closed doors. Though in close proximity, we can become nonchalant to the needs of others. As we approach National Day, there is no better way to celebrate Singapore than going to love those staying next door: our neighbours! The Bible tells us to ‘love our neighbours’ and as we celebrate Singapore, let us go and build ties, strengthen the spirit of neighbourliness and go love our block!
TIMELINE
Dates
What’s On
3 Dec – 11 Dec
- Love My Block Guide launched to leaders
- Collect Snack Packs*
- Brief and prepare LGs/families to participate in this together
12 Dec – 25 Dec
- Use the prayer guide to prepare for a prayer session either with LG or as a family before embarking on ‘Love my Block’
- Decide on which floors/ blocks to bless. For those who do not have budget, you can choose to simply give out the snack pack at each unit
- Share your story of breakthrough or thanksgiving using this hashtag #LovemyblockSG
View past year Christmas guides here.
How to participate
- Decide on something to get for your neighbour or use the snack pack provided by the church
- Write a message on the sticker provided from church and give out to your neighbour or put it in a bag and hang on the door.
- Introduce yourself and you may want to leave your contact
Suggested template messages/ prayer for neighbour
Dear Neighbour, Here’s something for you, hope you enjoy these old school snacks. Happy National Day!
Dear neighbour, may God fill you and your family with His joy and peace. Happy National Day!
From (Name), (Contact), (Address)
- Give out the snack pack to your friends in school
- Write a short message on the sticker provided
- Decide on something to get for your neighbour or give the snack pack provided by church
- Write a message on sticker provided by church
- Ask how they are doing, share about your life, show concern and care
- Ask them if you can bless them a prayer of blessing for them or ask if you can pray over any needs/ concerns they are having
Suggested template messages/ prayer for neighbour
You: Hi my name is XX, I am the neighbour staying on the 10th floor. Our church is celebrating National Day so we are going around to give out a small token of blessing
Neighbour: Oh, thank you for this thoughtful gesture, appreciate it.
You: You are welcome! How has things been recently for you?
- Decide on which block and which floors to bless
- Go in pairs to give out the blessing and card and introduce yourself as from Hope Singapore
Suggested template messages / prayer for neighbour
You: Hi! We are a small group of neighbours living in this zone (AMK, Kallang etc) and our church is celebrating National Day by going around to bless some residents. Here’s some goodies for you, enjoy!
Neighbour: Oh, that is very nice, thank you.
You: We are from Hope Singapore, you can find out more about our church online or tune in to our online services if you are interested. God bless you!
ONLINE ZOOM EVENT: 5 LANGUAGES OF LOVE
One great initiative to connect your neighbours is to bring them together to learn something interesting and relevant to the season. In the season of Valentine’s Day, we can learn about the 5 different ways we feel loved.
The concept of love languages was developed by Gary Chapman, Ph.D. In his book ‘The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts’, he describes these five unique styles of communicating love, categories he distilled from his experience in marriage counselling. These love languages apply to all relationships in our lives, like with our spouse, children, and friends.
Suggested Programme:
Category
Suggestions
Suggested template messages /
prayer for neighbour
prayer for neighbour
If you are a resident of the Block and you do not have any contacts in that block
- Decide on something to get for your neighbour or use the snack pack provided by the church
- Write a message on the sticker provided from church and give out to your neigbour or put it in a bag and hang on the door.
Introduce yourself and you may want to leave your contact
Set up Zoom waiting room, play background music
15 mins
Set up Zoom waiting room, play background music
10 min
Welcome & Introduction
- Introduce what is ‘5 Language of Love’
- Singles: Understanding your love language (link to Valentines day)
- Family: Understanding your kids love language
25 min
- Play video introduction: ‘What is 5 languages of Love’
- Try the Quiz individually
- Share what is your love language
20 min
- Breakout into small groups via Zoom Breakout Rooms
- Share how you would like to apply this to 1 relationship in your life!
Pray For My Block
Why Pray?
Believers all know we need to pray for others, but often we don’t because it takes effort, and the effort might not reap expected results in expected timing. Another reason we lose the priority of praying for the lost is that we don’t really believe that the task of leading people to Christ is impossible in our own strength. We think that if we can just be persuasive enough, persistent enough, intelligent enough, we can convince people to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.
But the Bible is clear. Without God’s work in evangelism, we can do nothing. It is God who gives sight to spiritually blind eyes. It is God who must perform a heart transplant, exchanging a hard heart of stone for a responsive heart of flesh. It is God who moves by the Spirit, breathing into dry bones and bringing them back to life.
Perhaps if persuading someone’s mind or intellect was all it took for them to receive Christ, we could win the battle on our own. But Scripture makes it clear that there is a much bigger issue going on. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” There is a spiritual battle going on over the hearts and minds of anyone who hears the Gospel. This makes evangelism in our own strength impossible. We need the work of God. This is why we need to pray.
Suggested prayer points:
- Salvation for the Lost Should Be Our Heart’s Desire
“Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1).
Pray: Lord God Almighty, touch my heart so that it longs for the salvation of every person in every nation on earth. May Your Spirit deepen my anguish over those lost in darkness. I cry out to You to give Jesus His inheritance – the ends of the earth!
- The Savior Who Seeks the Lost
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10).
Pray: Lord, because You came to earth, I have been saved for the purpose of living a life that is Christlike and to pray for the salvation of all who are lost. You found me when I was lost and living apart from the fullness of life You promise to those who love You. Thank You for allowing someone to pray for my salvation, for putting people in my life to speak of You, and for convicting my heart through Your Holy Spirit of the sin in my life. Thank You for the greatest act of sacrificial love – dying on a cross for my salvation and the salvation of all those who have yet to call You Lord and Savior. May I have the privilege of praying thousands into Your kingdom!
- Prayer for Blinded Minds
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Pray: Lord God Almighty, we pray for the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ Jesus, who is Your very image, to be made known to those who are lost. Draw them to Yourself as we seek Your face and ask that in Your mercy, You will move to remove whatever is blocking their minds to receive the gospel. Let them see the futility of going their own way and the blessing of embracing the life-giving Savior. Show me how to help people draw closer to You.
- Lord of the Harvest
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”” (Matthew 9:37-38).
Pray: Lord of the Harvest, awaken my heart more fully and move upon the hearts of those who have yet to discover their role in the amazing harvest that is ripe and ready to be gathered. Give us compassion for those who are lost! So many are wandering in darkness every single day, and so many others are completely without hope. Show me how to bring others with me to step into the harvest field together. May we be faithful to pray earnestly for the lost who are unreachable by human contact, but who can be reached through the power of Your Spirit as we pray! We ask that You will raise up more workers, and more people who will tell their God stories to the lost across the street and around the world!
- Pray for families
“Heavenly Father, we ask for your presence in families in our neighbourhood. We pray for strength and understanding between the marriages in our neighbourhood. We ask for loving, strong bonds between the children, teenagers, adults, and grandparents. We pray that each branch of the family would demonstrate love for one another.”
- Pray for relationships between neighbours
“God Almighty, we ask for healthy, thriving relationships between neighbours. We pray different cultures will be able to understand and care for one another in our neighbourhood. We pray that the diversity of your people will be celebrated by all neighbours, just as you affirm and love each one of us.”
- Pray for schools
“Father, we pray for the teachers and local principals who devote their days to shaping our students. Please be present as leaders make impactful decisions. We ask for understanding and patience of parents. We pray that our schools will be a safe, positive community for our students.”
- Pray for local churches
“Father, we pray for wisdom upon our local pastors as they nurture Your congregation and seek to serve those around them. We pray congregations would welcome neighbours with open arms. We pray that residents will open their hearts to experience community with the body of Christ and come to know You.”
- Pray for safety and peace
“Jesus, our Prince of Peace, we ask for your presence in the streets and homes of our community. We pray for local law enforcement, for their safety and wisdom and compassion in all circumstances. We pray your peace upon hearts and protect all from violence and evil.”
- Pray for local politicians and leaders.
“Father, we ask you to give our local leaders wisdom to make decisions affecting our neighbourhood. We pray they will be thoughtful in their decisions and listen to the voices of the community. We pray for courage to stand up for our community and to live with grace and dignity in our city.”
- Pray for residents
“God, we ask for a flourishing community, where neighbours learn to love each other and come to know Jesus. We pray that we can be good stewards of Your love to each one of our neighbours. We ask that You help us to learn from our community, and for homes of believers to be homes where all are welcomed.”
- Decide on something to get for your neighbour or use the snack pack provided by the church
- Write a message on the sticker provided from church and give out to your neighbour or put it in a bag and hang on the door.
- Introduce yourself and you may want to leave your contact
Suggested template messages/ prayer for neighbour
Dear Neighbour, Here’s something for you, hope you enjoy these old school snacks. Happy National Day!
Dear neighbour, may God fill you and your family with His joy and peace. Happy National Day!
From (Name), (Contact), (Address)
- Give out the snack pack to your friends in school
- Write a short message on the sticker provided
- Decide on something to get for your neighbour or give the snack pack provided by church
- Write a message on sticker provided by church
- Ask how they are doing, share about your life, show concern and care
- Ask them if you can bless them a prayer of blessing for them or ask if you can pray over any needs/ concerns they are having
Suggested template messages/ prayer for neighbour
You: Hi my name is XX, I am the neighbour staying on the 10th floor. Our church is celebrating National Day so we are going around to give out a small token of blessing
Neighbour: Oh, thank you for this thoughtful gesture, appreciate it.
You: You are welcome! How has things been recently for you?
- Decide on which block and which floors to bless
- Go in pairs to give out the blessing and card and introduce yourself as from Hope Singapore
Suggested template messages / prayer for neighbour
You: Hi! We are a small group of neighbours living in this zone (AMK, Kallang etc) and our church is celebrating National Day by going around to bless some residents. Here’s some goodies for you, enjoy!
Neighbour: Oh, that is very nice, thank you.
You: We are from Hope Singapore, you can find out more about our church online or tune in to our online services if you are interested. God bless you!
Connect to Neighbours
BFMP Ideas
Bless/ Fellowship
- Knock on neighbours’ door to bless them with the Hope gift
- Send goodies and greetings to neighbours who have been responsive
- Catch up with a neighbour and ask if you can pray for their needs
- Invite a neighbour over for a meal
Minister/Proclaim
- Catch up with a neighbour and pluck up courage to ask if you can pray for their needs
- Send a blessing prayer message to your neighbour
- Pray for your neighbour and let them know you have prayed for them
- Start a monthly online prayer group and invite neighbours to join
Building the relationship further
- Create an interest group chat and invite neighbours from your block to join. Some common interests are groupbuys, or parents with kids for play ideas
- Host a Zoom programme that is relevant for the season and invite your neigbours.
- Look out for online events/classes organised by the Residents’ Committees (commonly found on the neighbourhood notice board or lifts) and invite your neighbour to sign up together
- Organise a mini food pack donation drive with neighbours to low-income communities in the neighbourhood e.g. cleaners, construction workers
Conversation tips
Not sure what to talk about? Consider these 2 common themes in conversations:
Start with these questions:
- Has it been tough caring for your family members during this pandemic?
- Who are you closer to as you were growing up? Why?
- You look like a really hands-on Dad! Is it challenging taking care of young children?
- Do you and your family celebrate Christmas / CNY / Valentine’s?
Steering to spiritual conversation:
- Not everyone is easy to love, including our own family members. [Share someone in your life that you find it hard to love]. I am a Christian, so having God in my life helps me to have strength to still love those that are hard to love, including my family.
- We all have people we find it hard to forgive. I am a Christian, so knowing that God forgives me frees me from the bitter root of unforgiveness. Can I share with you more on how God forgives us?
- It is really not easy going through this pandemic with family members who require our intentional care. It is amazing how you have been coping. Do let me know how I can be a listening ear or lend my hand to help practically. God gives me strength to be able to shoulder caregiving needs. Can I pray for you too?
Start with these questions:
- 2021 has many uncertainties. Are there any uncertainties you are experiencing right now in your life?
- What are you working as and is it easy to cope since there have been many changes last year?
- How was 2021 for you and what do you hope for in 2022?
Steering to spiritual conversation:
- The constant changes make things very stressful; I do feel it too. This is why I depend on God because I trust that He holds my tomorrow.
- In the Christian faith, prayer is simply talking and trusting that God cares enough to hear, even if itʼs silent. Because if He is God, He can hear our hearts. Would you like me to pray for you?
- In fear and uncertainty, I turn to God. I am a Christian and I ask God to give me peace daily. Would you like to experience peace from God too?
Resources
Resources
Sermons
The Power of Territorial Commitment
Pastor Benny Ho
Pastor Benny Ho
Learn biblical perspectives that will empower us to commit to loving our neighbours, schoolmates, and colleagues.
The Power of the Gospel
Pastor Jeff Chong
Pastor Jeff Chong
“Salvation is God reaching out to us and not us reaching out to God.” How does this idea impact the way Christians make decisions in life?
Refuse to Remain Silent
Pastor Jasmine Poon
The life-changing power of the gospel is for people outside the Church and disciples of Christ are the bearers of the good news.
Love My City
Pastor Jeff Chong
Cities are full of opportunities to display the love of Christ to many who come from all walks of life. How can we love the city where we are living in?
A Desire for Boldness
Pastor Jeff Chong
Being witnesses of Christ requires us to ask God for boldness in the face of opposition.
A Call to Compassion
Pastor Daniel Tan
The call to share the Good News of Jesus Christ is a call for all believers to capture the heart of Jesus for the lost.
Stories
Love My Block 2022
“For me, outreaching is reminding myself of how good Christ has been in my life.” Hear stories of block pastoring from Hope Singapore!
Share the Gospel
Share the Good News using this interactive Bridge Diagram
Share how Jesus is the bridge to reconcile us to God!