On February 27, 2026, principals and leaders from Anglican Preschool Services, Methodist Preschool Services, New Life Preschool Services, and Presbyterian Preschool Services came together for a day of engagement and encouragement.

It was a simple gathering, yet it carried the weight of more than a decade.

Back in the 2000s, there was a quiet vision – to bring Christian preschool leaders together and build a network that could strengthen the ministry of Christian preschools in Singapore.

The idea sounded straightforward. But in reality, it proved difficult.

Different organisations had their own priorities, responsibilities and pressures. There were concerns about alignment, questions about how far to go, and sometimes a natural instinct to focus on one’s own backyard.

At times, there was apathy. At other times, hesitation or caution. Many of the reasons were understandable. After all, each leader was already carrying the daily responsibility of running schools and caring for children.

The journey was not always smooth. There were moments of frustration, and even disappointment.

Unity with God and each other

Over time, however, there was a quiet learning — to release the matter into God’s hands. To trust that while we work faithfully with what is before us, the greater work belongs to Him.

That is why this gathering was significant.

Even more meaningful was that the session was led by Pastor Richard and Dr Jacqueline Chung — the very people who first rallied leaders more than ten years ago, with the hope that Christian preschools could walk more closely together.

Pastor Richard and Dr Jacqueline Chung, veterans in the early childhood sector.

Their message to the group was simple: Christ is the vine. We are the branches. If we remain connected to Him — and to one another — fruit will come.

There was nothing complicated about the message. No sophisticated framework, no elaborate strategy. Just a simple reminder of the way growth happens in God’s Kingdom.

Christ is the vine, we are the branches: Leaders coming together to praise God.

The gathering was also timely. Christian preschools today face a very different landscape from a decade ago.

Rising costs, tightening regulations, manpower pressures and increasing competition have placed many smaller faith-based preschools under tremendous strain. Some struggle quietly to sustain operations. Others face the real possibility of closure. What was once a vibrant network of church-run preschools is slowly shrinking.

In such a season, it becomes even more important for leaders to come together. No single organisation can carry the weight of these challenges alone.

Enjoying a lohei together.

When leaders gather, they strengthen one another’s faith, share wisdom from their journeys, and remind one another that the work we carry belongs ultimately to God.

Relationships formed in times like these may one day become the very channels through which God preserves and renews the ministry of Christian preschools in Singapore.

A vision come to life

The conversations that followed reflected this spirit.

Leaders spoke honestly about their journeys — the joy of seeing children grow, the challenges of running schools in a demanding environment, and the responsibility of nurturing the next generation in faith.

They shared their aspirations for their schools, their uncertainties about the future, and the tensions they navigate between mission, resources and expectations.

“When leaders gather, they strengthen one another’s faith, share wisdom from their journeys, and remind one another that the work we carry belongs ultimately to God,” writes Lim Ee Tuo.

There was a refreshing openness in the room. Leaders were not presenting polished success stories. Instead, they spoke as fellow travellers — people carrying similar burdens and hopes.

There was no attempt to craft a common strategy or produce a grand vision for the future. The purpose was far simpler and perhaps far more important: to know one another, to listen, and to recognise that we are part of a larger work that God is doing across the different Christian preschool ministries.

Building friendships, sharing hearts.

In many ways, the most important outcome of the day was the strengthening of human relationships. Kingdom work rarely begins with programmes or plans. It begins with trust, with friendship, and with people who are willing to walk together.

More than ten years ago, the vision was simply to gather.

On this day, that vision quietly came to life.

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