Dr Bobby Sng, former President of the Bible Society of Singapore, was yesterday called home to the Lord at the age of 83.

Dr Sng was the General Secretary of the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) and, later, Graduate Secretary of the Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF).

Dr Sng served on the boards and councils of Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore, Overseas Missionary Fellowship (Singapore), Scripture Union (Singapore), St Luke’s Hospital, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and The Bible Society of Singapore.

He was also on the steering committee of the historic Singapore Billy Graham Crusade in 1978.

A Christian statesman, speaker and avid historian, Dr Sng was called into ministry and missions just a year after he graduated as a doctor in 1962. He is widely recognised as having had a pivotal influence on generations of evangelical Christians in Singapore.

His book, In His Good Time, which traces the history of the church in Singapore, has become a classic in Christian circles.

A gentle giant

Looking back at the close relationship between Dr Sng and his family that has spanned more than six decades, historian Ernest Chew recalled how Dr Sng was his sponsor to join the VCF back in 1961. Their paths continued to cross as they worked together at different organisations.

“He’s a life-long friend, a mentor, a co-labourer in the work of the Gospel,” said Chew.

“Dr Sng was always able to apply Scripture to contemporary society,” he added, recounting an anecdote where Dr Sng described his talk on Hosea as a love affair between Mr Ho and Ms Goh. “He’s a man of the Word, and he brings the Word into the world and Scripture into society.”

Juliette Arulrajah, associate regional facilitator at Transform World Southeast Asia and training chairman of the Methodist Missions Society, also shared how she was greatly blessed by Dr Sng’s ministry through FES.

“Dr Sng was known for his uncompromising stand on biblical values, and his hunger for God, His Word and His purposes,” she said.

“He has helped transform Singapore Christendom over the years and leaves a shining, rippling legacy. 

“It was through FES and GCF that thousands of undergraduates and graduates from Singapore, who are disciples and Christian leaders of various sectors of community, were rooted in and shaped by their faith to make a difference in the marketplace in Singapore and beyond.”

Dr Sng’s wife, Dr Ivy Sng-Peck, has been his faithful partner in ministry and missions since they married in 1964. They have three daughters, Li Hwei, Jen Hwei and Ming Hwei, as well as sons-in-law Dr Mak Koon Hou, Nicholas Merrow-Smith and Francis Lee, and six grandchildren.

Rick Seaward, my pastor