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“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.”
Isaiah 54:2-3
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.”
Isaiah 54:2-3
Agape Christian Centre was formerly the Chinese Service at Holy Grace Presbyterian Church. It was initially formed in 1975 as a service for Sunday School teachers with a strength of 20 members and slowly developed into a Chinese Service. At the time, Reverend Kenny Yeo was in charge of the Hainanese service, and also took on the responsibility of leading the Chinese Service. In 1980, Pastor Jennifer Yeo joined the church and the service ministry developed steadily. The focus of the ministry was personal ministering to family, neighbors and friends, personal testimony and cultivating individuals. East Coast naturally became the base for this service/ministry.
The Chinese service became independent in 1985, with 7 deacons selected to support the development of the ministry. There was an increase in strength to 80 members. In mid-1985, Pastor William Soh took over leadership from Pastor Jennifer Yeo. The board of deacons received and ascertained from scripture the vision and mission towards grassroots evangelism. As such, the service began to expand towards the Worker Ministry and HDB events, and the next year, pioneered the first grassroots worship in Singapore, and carried out a series of ministries to serve the grassroots.
Since the development of the church, the location for congregation was crucial. Initial congregations were scattered in various locations, the congregation was able to gather at a temporary location at Old Tampines Road allocated by the government. 3 services were held there, divided into 4 pastoral areas and 38 small groups/cell groups. Church members were able to be spiritually equipped and cared for in a more systematic way and ministries’ expansion was done through cell groups. In 1995, Pastor Ng Li-Shien and Reverend Lim Choon Guan joined the team, strengthening the line-up of the pastoral team. In the same year, the church started the “China Gospel Fellowship”, evangelizing and shepherding Chinese nationals living in Singapore in a family-based congregation model.
On 14th September 1996, Agape Christian Centre officially moved out of Holy Grace Presbyterian Church as an independent Presbyterian church called Agape Christian Centre. This began Agape Christian Centre’s new chapter in history. As the church was still in the midst of celebrating this occasion, the government announced that they would be taking back the location of the Counselling Centre in Old Tampines Road. In the Elder’s meeting on 1st January 1997, the congregation came to a decision to purchase 3 shophouse units at Lorong 11 Geylang to be the church property, putting an end to the constant movement of the congregation. In 1999, the church officially settled in our own “home”. In the same year, Reverend Thong joined the pastoral team. The strong pastoral team became another blessing towards Agape’s development.
In 1990, Reverend Soh established the Chinese-based Agape Counseling and Training Centre, renting the Presbyterian Centre as a Rehabilitation Centre. This ministry was later moved to Old Tampines Road, where numerous brothers in rehabilitation continued to receive training, care, and counselling. This ministry ended in 1996 after the government took back the location of the Rehabilitation Centre. A student Care Centre was established at the void deck of Bedok North Blk 13 aimed at supporting single-parent or needy families, providing help and care for their children.
The Centre was run by a group of professional counsellors and social workers. Through a series of talks, seminars and job fairs, the Centre supported families to adapt to various challenges and build up a stable family unit. At the same time, the Centre also counseled and reached out to marginalized teens (?), latchkey children and their families. In 2006, the Agape Student Care Centre was closed due to lack of funds and manpower. The counselling Centre also went through a reshuffling from psychological counseling to spiritual counseling. The Centre organized many training courses and talks to help people have a deeper understanding of themselves and how to help people in need around them. In 2017, due to a lack of manpower, the center stopped all counseling services immediately, but still continues to provide bursaries for children of low-income families till today. On average, the bursary supports 10 students a year, with ages ranging from primary school to university.
Even as the church was developing the local grassroots ministry, God allowed the leaders to see the needs of other nations. In 1992, Reverend Soh personally attended missionary work overseas. In the next few years, he would continually return to the missionary field, participating in training local church leaders overseas. In 2007, God personally moved Reverend Soh, who started the Chinese Workers Service with faith. In the past few years, the service has blessed approximately 5000 Chinese foreign workers. However, as the congregation numbers greatly decreased in the wake of the pandemic, the service was closed at the end of 2021 with much reluctance.
To provide better pastoral care for our elderly brothers and sisters, the church started the Elderly Ministry in 1999. In their weekly meetings on Tuesdays, the elder brothers and sisters would eagerly congregate and encourage each other. Their liveliness and spirit of being young-at-heart attracted many new members to join the congregation. Throughout their journey, they were accompanied by Reverend Thong, Pastor Eunice Teo, Deacon Ru Yu, and Deacon Hui Ping, who learned and grew along with them. In 2020, the congregation was halted due to the pandemic, and the ministry closed shortly after.
To provide better pastoral care for our elderly brothers and sisters, the church started the Elderly Ministry in 1999. In their weekly meetings on Tuesdays, the elder brothers and sisters would eagerly congregate and encourage each other. Their liveliness and spirit of being young-at-heart attracted many new members to join the congregation. Throughout their journey, they were accompanied by Reverend Thong, Pastor Eunice Teo, Deacon Ru Yu, and Deacon Hui Ping, who learned and grew along with them. In 2020, the congregation was halted due to the pandemic, and the ministry closed shortly after.
The leaders firmly believed that God placed Agape in Geylang for His greater purpose. While seeking the answer to this, they found that if Jesus were to come to Singapore, He would seek out His lost children in Geylang! As such, the church coordinated with Sister Debbie and started the Geylang Ladies Ministry. In 2013, to live out a life like Jesus and to address the burdened feeling of the unreached land of Geylang, church members carried out various activities, giving out over 1000 promotional cups, and caroling around the area. In the same year, Reverend Soh officially retired, and with his wife, embarked on their missionary journey together. The elders took on the responsibility of leading and pastoring the church, with support from Pastor Wong, who was still enrolled in Bible College/Seminary. During this time, Reverend Timothy Hoon was appointed by The Presbyterian Church as Agape’s temporary Head, supporting the communications between Agape and The Presbyterian Church and providing consultation on church affairs.
In 2016, Pastor Wong was officially appointed as a Pastor by the Presbyterian Church. In the same year, he received the “Jericho Plan”. In the span of half a year, church members were mobilized on prayer walks around Geylang in declaring that Geylang belongs to God! In August 2016, Pastor Allan Fong joined the team and was in charge of leading the Youth and Children Ministries. In this year, there were a total of 4 mission trips, with 43 participants in total, and high morale throughout all groups. The church studied the book of Nehemiah, which encouraged everyone to reconstruct, rebuild, and strengthen ourselves in the positions we have been placed into.
In 2016, Pastor Wong was officially appointed as a Pastor by the Presbyterian Church. In the same year, he received the “Jericho Plan”. In the span of half a year, church members were mobilized on prayer walks around Geylang in declaring that Geylang belongs to God! In August 2016, Pastor Allan Fong joined the team and was in charge of leading the Youth and Children Ministries. In this year, there were a total of 4 mission trips, with 43 participants in total, and high morale throughout all groups. The church studied the book of Nehemiah, which encouraged everyone to reconstruct, rebuild, and strengthen ourselves in the positions we have been placed into.
For many years, the church leaders and members had been working hard to repay the building loan of the church building. Through God’s grace, the church finally paid off the loan in 2017. A simple and solemn dedication ceremony was held in December to dedicate this reclaimed land to our Lord, who is full of grace! In 2018, Reverend Lim Choon Guan was appointed by Presbyterian Church to be Agape’s Interim Pastor. In the second half of the year, the church underwent renovations and the construction of an elevator. Following this, Pastor Wong was appointed as a Reverend by the Presbyterian Church.
To lay the foundation of the word in our church members’ lives, Reverend Wong strongly promoted bible-reading and prayer: to read a bible passage each at the beginning and end of the day, and to pray for a single prayer item each day. The members participated enthusiastically. To encourage everyone to be equipped to complete the Great Commission, the church fully supported the 4 members who responded to the calling to study theology, both in their studies as well as financially.
During the pandemic in 2020, there were many aspects that required immediate changes. The pastoral team also diligently adapted their leadership methods and plans. The church members were quick to adapt, and even in the many changes, continued to be united with the church. Through the pandemic, the members’ longing for God’s word grew deeper, and signed up enthusiastically for training, service, and prayer meetings. The church’s evangelism work never stopped, and the outreach events for adults and youth welcomed over 50 new friends! Thank God!
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