Day of His Power 2023: Voices across Singapore ring out in praise and prayer
Peck Sim // August 9, 2023, 3:13 am
Victory Family Centre in Sembawang was the prayer hub for those in the north including members from churches such as Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Sembawang Praise Evangelical Church and Yishun Methodist Mission. Photo courtesy of VFC.
Day of His Power (DOHP) 2023 resounded in seven regional centres last night (August 8) as one Church. Seven different opening songs were sung in one tune of worship and adoration.
Almost 7,000 believers streamed into sanctuaries and overflowed at the regional centres across Singapore: Victory Family Centre and Living Sanctuary Brethren Church (LSBC) in the north; Lighthouse Evangelism, Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church and Faith Community Baptist Church in the east; Church of our Saviour (COOS) and Hope Singapore in the west.
One Body in prayer
The evening kicked off with thanksgiving to God for who He is and for His faithfulness in preserving Singapore in the midst of global and national challenges.
Ps Jeff challenged the church to rise up and be part of God’s work in Singapore and the nations.
LoveSingapore Chairman Pastor Jeff Chong, Senior Pastor of Hope Singapore, addressed the seven centres via video.
He exhorted the Body of Christ to pay special attention to three strategic points of prayer: Turning Singapore Godward, Winning the Youth and Blessing the Nations – the focus of the past 40 days of video devotions.
Ps Jeff challenged the Church in Singapore to rise up and be part of God’s work in Singapore and the nations.
“Do you think this is a God thing or a human thing?” Ps Jeff asked. “If it is just a human thing, we should just listen and then move on with our lives. But if it is a God thing, as I believe it is, I am asking us to pray together.
“I am asking us to invest our time, talent and treasure to pursue what is on God’s heart.”
The Body of Christ started with prayers of repentance before launching into prayers for the three strategic focal points outlined by Ps Jeff.
The unity was evident.
Almost 60 pastors from various churches joined the seven centres to encourage and exhort the Body, and lead prayers in each segment.
Pastors from three churches in the west of Singapore partnered with Ps Jeff at Hope Singapore: Bukit Panjang Gospel Chapel, Jurong Christian Church and Community of Praise Baptist Church.
At Victory Family Centre (VFC), pastors from Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Sembawang Praise Evangelical Church and Yishun Methodist Mission joined Jeremy Seaward, Senior Overseer of VFC to rally the congregation to pray with urgency.
Thirty pastors from churches including Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church, Chapel of Resurrection, Yio Chu Kang Chapel, Zion Bishan Bible Presbyterian Church and Zion Living Streams Church converged at LSBC alongside LSBC Senior Pastor Lawrence Chua and Pastor Eugene Seow.
BBTC Deputy Senior Pastor Edric Sng – prior to leading the congregation in Holy Communion and the Lord’s Prayer – called on the Body of Christ to heed the warning of 1 Corinthians 11:18-19.
“We have shown we can pray together and worship together as one church,” said Ps Edric. “Without this intentional posture of unity, if divided, we come before God in an unworthy manner. We must be one, in mind and in mission.”
He was joined in leading the congregation in prayers at BBTC by five pastors from churches from the East: Bedok Methodist Church, Bethesda Cathedral, Bethesda Community, Calvary Assembly of God and Katong Presbyterian Church.
Over at Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC), Senior Pastor Daniel Khong addressed the multitude of believers: “We believe the Church must take responsibility for the spiritual well-being of Singapore.
“That’s why we join tonight with Christians all across Singapore to pray for the welfare of our home.”
Pastors of Every Nation Church Singapore, Hope Singapore and River Community Church were in attendance at the FCBC centre.
Winning our Youth
In praying for our youth, Timothy Eu, Senior Pastor of Calvary Assembly of God, reminded the congregation that youths “are not just the generation for tomorrow but the generation for now. They have an important role to play in winning the world”.
Believers at FCBC also prayed for parents whose children have not yet come to Christ.
The night continued on for some of the centres even after closing.
At COOS, youths stayed on to pray after the service. The worship team at FCBC continued playing as some believers lingered after the service.
Turning Singapore Godward as an Antioch of Antiochs
The eve of National Day is a symbolic time to pray for Singapore, as the country stands on the threshold of its 58th year and prepares for a transition to new leadership.
Recent political scandals have rocked the nation amid global political and economic upheavals, making prayers even more urgent.
The evening ended with the Singapore national anthem ringing through the seven churches in a gesture of solidarity.
DOHP is just the beginning.
“The Church of Jesus Christ has been called for such a time as this,” Ps Jeff told Salt&Light.
“Just as God filled as many empty vessels as the widow brought to Him (2 Kings 4:3-6), He will fill up the Church as we bring ourselves to Him as empty vessels, and pour out through us His Gospel, His love, His life, to the unsaved in our lives.”
DOHP is the culmination of the 40.Day Prayer season organised by LoveSingapore, a unity movement of diverse churches in Singapore.
The Mandarin version of DOHP took place on August 6 at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Will you pray for Singapore?
Pray for the Gospel to go forth “not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction”. (1 Thessalonians 1:15)
Turning Singapore Godward
Pray:
- In repentance for the nation and the Church.
- For the Church to arise and shine the light of Jesus in Singapore.
- For peace and prosperity for Singapore.
- For the Government of Singapore and its 4G leaders.
- For the walls of righteousness in Singapore to be protected.
- For Singaporeans to love one another with respect and gentleness.
- For spiritual bondage and darkness to be destroyed.
- For the body of Christ to labour in unity to turn Singapore Godward.
Winning the Youth
Pray for:
- The hearts of our children to be turned toward the heavenly Father.
- A generation that knows and serves the LORD.
- For the Spirit and the favour of God to fall on our youths.
- For inter-generational partnership.
- For God to raise up leaders that serve their generation with integrity of heart and skilfulness of hands.
Blessing the Nations
Pray that:
- Singapore will fulfil its calling as the Antioch of Antiochs.
- A new wave of missionaries will step up and go forth.
- God will bring labourers to the harvest fields.
- Every church will be a thriving seedbed and sender of missionaries to the unreached.
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