At a meeting room in CapitaGreen, a group of office workers are gathered for a different kind of lunch meeting.

Instead of talking about targets, strategies or upcoming projects, these 15 professionals from various banking and finance companies in the Raffles Place area are learning about the Theology of Work – biblical perspectives on the significance of what they do from 9am to 6pm every day.

The 10-minute video by Pastor Benny Ho, Leadership Mentor of Faith Community Church in Perth, is shown in two parts. In between, they pause for discussion, candidly sharing workplace challenges like long working hours and the pressure of meeting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Wrapping up the 90-minute session, the participants then share their reflections from the lesson and consider how its principles can be applied in their own workplaces.

This is the Raffles Place Banking and Finance Fellowship Group (BFFG), one of five such fellowship groups that meet twice a month.

Growing the marketplace

Organised by a core team of banking and finance professionals, BFFGs provide a space for Christians in the industry to cultivate a discipline of discipleship, prayer and evangelism at work.

They are part of the larger G.R.O.W movement, which aims to:

• Gather believers for industry-specific conferences and gatherings,
• Rally them to live out God’s calling at work,
• Organise these professionals into existing or new marketplace fellowships, and
• mobilise them to be Witnesses in the marketplace.

The movement envisions a marketplace revolution in which the typical believer will be discipled in the marketplace as part of a G.R.O.W group from Mondays to Fridays, while remaining rooted primarily in a local church and cell group on weekends.

Through regular fellowship sessions, members journey through a 12-lesson G.R.O.W curriculum that explores topics on how to navigate and live out their faith in the marketplace.

A BFFG member taking notes during a group lesson.

Joyce Lo, who leads the BFFG at Asia Square, said that G.R.O.W groups are particularly needful in the banking and finance sector as it offers Christians the space to process their struggles with like-minded believers who understand the nature, nuances and challenges of the industry.

She added that it also serves to anchor believers in God’s Word and ways, in a place where the pursuit of wealth often crowds out everything else.

It is her hope that these fellowship groups will equip Christians to live out their faith boldly in the marketplace and, in so doing, bring about godly transformation in the industry.

Igniting change

In the six months that G.R.O.W has been running in the banking and finance industry, attendees have seen a change in their personal understanding of what it means to be salt and light in the marketplace.

Five leaders and members of the fellowship across the five locations – Raffles Place, Asia Square, City Hall, Marina Bay Financial Centre and Changi Business Park – share their testimonies.

An authentic community

When Isaiah Mak joined the Marina Bay Financial Centre BFFG, he found a safe space to share honestly about the challenges he faces in the office.

“Sometimes when we share with our colleagues, they may take it wrongly and it might sound like politics. But in this group, we uphold one another,” he told Salt&Light, adding that many of the BFFG members have become his friends.

These fortnightly lunch meetings also leave him feeling “refreshed”, said Isaiah, who is in his early 40s. “We remind one another to walk right in the middle of an environment where people say ‘time is money’.”

Isaiah Mak (first from the left) pictured with his Marina Bay Financial Centre BFFG.

Alex Lai, who co-leads Raffles Place BFFG, has also been deeply encouraged by the open sharing of those in his group.

“Young people share their work challenges so authentically, even though they are not familiar with one another,” said the 56-year-old, adding that they also love bringing their friends and colleagues to the gatherings.

“I look forward to each meeting as the enthusiasm of the young people spurs me on. I see God moving among them in this industry, redeeming it for God.”

Learning from others

For Lim Su Ling, who came to know Christ just last year, her BFFG has been pivotal in helping her understand what it means to live out her faith.

“It has reminded me to be a witness at work by building genuine relationships with colleagues and showing sincere care – being salt and light in the workplace,” said the 47-year-old.

At one session, someone in the fellowship shared about beginning each workday with prayer. This has since become a meaningful practice for Su Ling, who makes it a point to pray every morning before work, committing her tasks and interactions to God.

Eunice Kong (fifth from the left) pictured with her Asia Square BFFG.

Similarly, Eunice Kong, who is new to both the industry and the Christian faith, found that her BFFG has helped her walk with God. In the past, she did not fully understand what it meant to be salt and light at her workplace, but Eunice now has a clearer understanding.

“I have gained more perseverance, wisdom and confidence after meeting all these brothers and sisters,” said the 51-year-old.

She added that, as the only Christian in her company, she has been spurred to pray for her colleagues. With God’s grace, Eunice believes there will come a right time to share the Good News with them.

A greater purpose

For 27-year-old Aaron Liu, the BFFG sessions have given him a different perspective of his work.

“It reminded me that I have a divine mission, that work is not just work, that all things are worship to God,” he said.

“When I feel purposeless, I remember that God has a purpose for me in this season. When I face difficulties, I still have joy in me. When people are unkind and impatient to one another, I can be patient with and kind to them.”

A while ago, Aaron’s team welcomed a new colleague. Over a casual lunch, the conversation topic turned to faith, and Aaron invited his colleague to church. His colleague encountered God there and has since become a committed Christian.

Aaron reflected: “The greatest impact I can bring to my workplace is when I myself yield to the Spirit, walk in obedience and abide in Christ. Then and only then do I have a foundation in bringing change to my heart, and then the workplace.”

Sophia Wu, 37, joined a BFFG to stay grounded in the faith as she struggled with the culture at her workplace. During one session, she was reminded that she is meant to glorify God, not herself, in all she does.

Around the same time, a colleague in her workplace opened up to her about her stress on their commute home together. Sophia, though usually private about her faith, felt compelled to share the faith with her.

That colleague later accepted Sophia’s invitation to attend an Alpha Course. “I was glad that I could introduce God in her life,” said Sophia.

Working with a calling 

Sky Kwah, who leads the Raffles Place BFFG, believes that God’s heart is to redeem industries, not just the people inside them. This happens when Christians in the industry have a Scriptural vision of finance, said the 37-year-old.

“The world often sees finance as the pursuit of wealth. But Scripture sees finance and banking as the stewardship of God’s resources for the flourishing of God’s creation. Wealth is not the destination. Worship is. Stewardship is the responsibility, and flourishing is the fruit,” he said.

He encouraged Christian professionals to bring godly transformation to the industry by being visible witnesses for Christ through excellence and love, praying intentionally for the sector and investing in fellow believers at work.

Sky has been personally encouraged to see people rediscover what work was originally meant to be by God’s design. 

“There’s something powerful about watching someone shift from going through the motions to genuinely understanding that their Monday to Friday matters to Him,” he said. “We are seeing believers go from simply working for a living to working with a calling, and going back to the Caller.”

Being part of a G.R.O.W group has also expanded his view of God’s Kingdom.

“The Kingdom is bigger than any one expression of it. God can move in more places, more people, more industries and definitely more ways than we can imagine,” he said.

“Being part of that has given me a greater appreciation for the unity of the Church and a deeper excitement for what God is doing on a larger scale. Not just about one industry, one marketplace or one movement, but by one Body under one King.”

Join us for our next Banking and Finance Fellowship Gathering!

Participate in an evening of worship, learning and reflection at the third Salt&Light Banking & Finance Fellowship Gathering 2026.

Come and listen to a keynote by Rev Edmund Chan, Leadership Mentor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church, on unity and its role in God’s mission, alongside a sharing of BFFG’s vision and updates. Be encouraged by testimonies from the marketplace and engage in a time of prayer for the industry and its leaders.

Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Address: Wesley Methodist Church, Wesley Hall
                   5 Fort Canning Road, Singapore 179493

The event is free, but registration is required. Register here.

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