For Kenny Michael Lew, the year 2025 was marked by loss.

One after another, he found himself saying goodbye to loved ones and close friends. In his grief, he came to a realisation: “Whatever I want to do in life, I better do it now.”

It lit a fire under a dream he had been carrying for seven years. Kenny, who is in his 50s, brought it before God: “If you give me a space, I will go ahead, and I will round up some people to do this with me.”

And God answered.

Corridor sparks

On June 20, Kairos Space – a 2,200-square-foot hall at YMCA Orchard intended to be a “Christian community centre” – will officially open its doors.

Named after the Greek word kairos, which refers to the “right” or “opportune” moment in time, the initiative was born out of a desire for a space where Christian individuals, ministries and organisations can gather, connect and collaborate, said Kenny, an entrepreneur and career coach.

The seating area at Kairos Space, which will function as a café and community space on weekdays.

The vision for Kairos Space was first planted in Kenny’s heart in 2019. He had witnessed the value of collaborative spaces while helping to kickstart LaunchPad at One-North, Singapore’s flagship startup ecosystem that is home to more than 2,400 startups and 30 incubators.

Inspired by the connections and innovation such a space could facilitate, Kenny dreamed of creating a similar one – a “spiritual impact hub”, in his words – for Christians.

He imagined that the space would ignite “corridor sparks”, where people bump into each other, share what they’re working on and help each other organically for the purpose of a shared mission.

“There is a generation of people, like myself, who want to do something new. If you work in close proximity, you get connected faster, the resources are shared more efficiently, and you can advance Kingdom work much more effectively.”

A church beyond church walls

Apart from being a space for people to connect, Kenny envisions Kairos Space, which is available for rent, as a venue for Christian workshops, conferences, cell groups, seminars and programmes like Alpha.

He also hopes that the space, which houses a café, will be a neutral, non-threatening place for those who do not know Christ or the unchurched to experience the presence of God. “We are a church beyond the walls of a church,” he said.

Kenny envisions Kairos Space to be filled with music and worship.

With a heart to integrate work and faith, Kenny will be organising morning devotions and mid-week fellowships for people working and studying in the area to meet God during the work day. 

Noting how Kairos Space is located in the heart of town, Kenny said: “We hope to be like a sanctuary in the city. If you want to get away from work, or are mentally tired, stressed and need somewhere to quieten down and be prayed for, this is a good place.”

How you can be part of it

Kairos Space is looking for people who are:

• Creative and missional, and who want to build new communities or launch new ministries
• Ministry leaders: Worship leaders, Bible study facilitators, Pastors who can preach short mid-week devotions, and Alpha volunteers to help anchor the spiritual life of the space
• Befrienders and prayer warriors, to minister to those who walk in with needs
• Freelancers, tutors, entrepreneurs, trainers and coaches who are looking for a place to work
• Adults with a heart for the youth, to invest in the next generation who may visit the space

If this is you, or if you’d like to contribute in other ways, reach out to Kenny here.

Corporate packages are available for organisations looking for a regular space. Smaller ministries, student groups and individuals can reach out to Kenny, who is happy to work with each group’s needs on a case-by-case basis.

RELATED STORIES:

Reclaiming our physical, emotional and spiritual spaces

Cultivating the garden, watching the city: A call for all Christians in Singapore