The National Stadium, site of the landmark Billy Graham crusade some 40 years ago, echoed with the sound of drums and clappers last night, May 17.

“I’ve not seen a more energetic crowd!” enthused host and actress Belinda Lee who, together with Pastor Raymond Sim, was hosting an audience of  more than 30,000 at the opening rally of the much-anticipated Celebration of Hope event from May 17-19.

Last night’s English-language rally kicked off the three-day event. Tickets were snapped up days before.

Due to the overwhelming response, the event was also live streamed via the Celebration of Hope Facebook page, where over 70,000 unique visitors tuned in.

Hosts Belinda Lee and Pastor Raymond Sim, together with drummers from Lighthouse Evangelism, welcomed the crowd of over 30,000 at the Celebration of Hope. Photo by Luke Beh.

The night was filled with music from Little Nonya singer Olivia Ong, worship band Awaken Generation, and drummers from Lighthouse Evangelism.

A common thread was woven through the night: The freedom of Hope.

Just what is the deal with hope?

“Hope is the certainty that something good is coming your way,” said Bishop Rennis Ponniah, chairman of Celebration of Hope and head of the Anglican Church in Singapore, in his welcome address. “No matter how difficult life can be, or how final death can seem to be at the end, there is hope for everyone.” 

Host Belinda Lee understands that well. She had witnessed first-hand how her late mother found hope even in the face of terminal cancer: “There is hope in Jesus Christ. People come in with broken hearts, so much despair – I just want you to know one thing, God knows your pain.”

Hope was something that singer Olivia Ong had also desperately sought.

After a lilting rendition of 如燕, the theme song from the popular TV series, The Little Nonya, she shared how she had struggled with rejection in the early days of her entertainment career.

She started to dress and behave differently in order to gain acceptance.

“I realised I didn’t have to pretend … God accepts me. He loves me even with my flaws,” singer Olivia Ong says. Photo by Wong Siqi.

“But the more I pretended, the more I felt trapped … I didn’t know how to stop myself because who was I without these masks? Would people still love me? Would I love myself?” the singer revealed to the hushed crowd.

She cried out to God and in her darkest moment, He told her: “Stop trying so hard. I want you to begin from a place of honesty. This time, you begin with me.”

“I realised God loves me even with my flaws … I learnt that God’s love casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18) And slowly I grew out of my mask and into my own skin,” said Ong.

“My sincere hope is for anyone of you who is facing difficulties – if you don’t know God, God can lift you up on His wings.”

“Every one of us is being offered forgiveness, new life and hope for the future,” Canon J John tells the hushed crowd. Photo by Vicson Huang.

Balm for the soul

“Without hope we can’t cope,” said evangelist Canon J John. “Let your hope, not your hurts, shape your future.

“This is the essence of Christianity: Every one of us is being offered forgiveness, new life and hope for the future. All of it begins when we accept the free gift of Jesus.”

Yap Hui Kheng (middle) received Christ last night after his colleague, Lim Hong Khiang (right), invited him to the rally. Photo by Karen Tan.

At Canon John’s invitation, more than 800 people – young and old – responded as the song Amazing Grace was being sung.

One of them was 61-year-old Yap Hui Kheng, who came to the rally at the invitation of his colleague, Lim Hong Khiang, 48. 

“We were having dinner and sharing about life and I felt prompted to invite Hui Kheng to the rally,” said Lim. “Tonight, he just said, ‘I don’t think I want to wait any longer.'”

Although Hui Kheng’s family is mostly Christian, he has put off the call to accept Christ. “I feel relieved; I have put this off for too long, I didn’t plan for this (accepting Christ).”

The excitement continues

It was not just the attendees who were blessed.

“I saw so many people coming forward for salvation. That was the best thing,” beamed usher Esther Phang, 61, from Lighthouse Evangelism.

She was one of hundreds of volunteers from the 227 churches and ministries who are participating in Celebration of Hope.

More than 800 responded to Canon J John’s invitation to learn more about the hope Christ offers. Photo by Audris Quek.

Caleb Low, 31, from International Baptist Church who served as a counsellor said: “It was a really wonderful experience when God put me in a position to lead Ifan, an Indonesian, to faith. I hope that God will grow that seed of faith in Ifan – that can only be possible with God.”

He added: “I’m touched that this place is packed – it is a magnificent sight. Because the Bible talks about people of all nations coming together to worship God.

“This is a glimpse of what is to come.”

He looks forward to “God working His mysterious and wondrous ways in hearts” at the rallies today and tomorrow, May 18 and 19. 

Come join in the excitement or tune in to the Celebration of Hope livestream today and tomorrow for:

• Colours of Hope for children and families (Saturday, May 18, 10.30am)
• Abundance of Hope, the Mandarin rally (Saturday, May 18, 7.30pm)
• Power of Hope, the Tamil rally (Saturday, May 18, 7.30pm, OCBC arena)
• Joy of Hope, Filipino/Engish rally (Sunday, May 19, 10.30am)
• Reality of Hope, English rally (Sunday, May 19, 7.30pm)

Find out more at the Celebration of Hope website.