Actor Zhu Houren received the Stories of Hope and 还好吗hhm.sg Evangelism Award at the 2026 Salt&Light Inspiration Awards in Singapore on September 11. The honor recognizes his dedicated efforts to share the Christian faith with Chinese-speaking communities, particularly the elderly. Houren, who is 71 years old, stated that he feels called to continue his ministry rather than slow down. He encourages believers to invite non-believing friends to faith events and has focused on visiting seniors and those with health conditions. The award highlights his zeal for outreach and his commitment to mentoring younger actors while spreading his message.
Abraham Yeo and his wife Peng Cheng Yu received the Social Impact Award at the 2026 Salt&Light Inspiration Awards in Singapore on September 11. The couple leads Homeless Hearts of Singapore, an organization dedicated to befriending and advocating for rough sleepers. Abraham Yeo, a former software engineer, founded the group in 2014 after witnessing homelessness in Tokyo and Singapore. The award recognizes their tangible care for marginalized communities. According to the outlet, the ministry focuses on listening to homeless individuals and sharing their stories to honor them, rather than solely providing material aid.
The Come and See Foundation in Singapore has launched a new online resource designed to help Christians use the TV series The Chosen for faith conversations. The free tool provides short clips paired with Scripture passages and discussion guides, available in 38 languages. Linus Koh, the country lead for Singapore, shared how the show helped a friend share his faith. Ashish Nag, strategy head for Asia, emphasized that the series aims to point viewers to the Bible rather than replace it. The initiative seeks to turn fans into disciples through church-led engagement ahead of Season 6 and a future film release.
Michael Emmett, described as an influential criminal, encountered Jesus after being introduced to the Alpha course while incarcerated. Nicky Gumbel, a pioneer of the Alpha program, shares this story in a video. The organization is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. According to the outlet, Alpha has reached over 38 million participants across more than 175 countries and 100 languages. Emmett's experience highlights how the program has influenced hundreds of prisoners through his involvement. The Salt&Light website published the report detailing this personal transformation and the program's global reach.
Priyanka Annuncia, who won Miss Universe Singapore in 2023, has transitioned into a role as a justice advocate. According to Salt&Light, she now represents the International Justice Mission (IJM). Her work focuses on fighting human trafficking and protecting children from online sexual exploitation. Annuncia utilizes speaking engagements around the world to amplify the voices of the voiceless. The outlet reports that her pageant victory opened doors for her to pursue this advocacy work, aligning with her personal prayer to be a light for others. She is currently based in Singapore.
The Thirst Collective celebrated its tenth anniversary on September 11 at the Ritz-Carlton in Singapore. The Christian media ministry reported reaching 1.4 million readers annually and publishing over 10,000 stories. Minister Edwin Tong spoke at the gala, emphasizing the importance of faith-driven action and quiet service. The event also honored seven individuals with the Salt&Light Inspiration Awards for their contributions to missions, evangelism, and social causes. Pastor Edric Sng, the CEO, reflected on the organization's growth from a small team to a significant digital platform, while Pastor Naomi Dowdy encouraged continued partnership for future outreach.
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A massive glacial collapse in Nepal triggered catastrophic flash floods, killing nearly 1,400 people and leaving thousands missing. The disaster destroyed infrastructure across multiple districts, including several churches, according to the Nepal Christian Society. Religious leaders report that survivors face severe shortages of food, shelter, and medical care. Christian groups have established relief teams to distribute emergency supplies and provide temporary housing in holding centers while calling for long-term reconstruction support.
The Intentional Disciplemaking Church Conference in Singapore concluded its 32-year run on September 4 and 5 at the Singapore Expo. Over 3,300 delegates attended the final event, which was organized by Covenant Evangelical Free Church. Senior pastors Rev Tony Yeo and Rev Tan Kay Kiong announced that the conference will be succeeded by the Disciplemaking Alliance Singapore. This new multi-church platform, established in March 2024, aims to foster sustained disciplemaking through workshops, pastoral communities, and an annual summit. The alliance includes leaders from several major Singapore churches and seeks to continue the movement's mission beyond a single annual gathering.
A Bangladeshi migrant worker suffered severe burns in an industrial accident in Singapore. After recovering, he used his compensation to pay off debts and fund a school in his home village in Bangladesh. The institution opened to provide quality education, including English and computer skills. The worker credits Christian volunteers in Singapore for their support during his recovery. The school aims to prevent future generations from facing the same educational gaps he experienced, with many graduates now attending secondary schools. This initiative transforms a tragic workplace incident into a lasting community benefit in Bangladesh.
Australian ministry CityAlight has released its first Mandarin-translated EP, titled 家 (Home), on August 21. The four-track album features Mandarin versions of songs like God Is for Us and Jesus Strong and Kind. These tracks were recorded live at The Star Theatre in Singapore last July during a worship event called Called for Mission. The project involved months of collaboration with local pastors and musicians to ensure theological accuracy and singability. Rich Vassallo, CityAlight’s COO, stated the goal is to provide biblically faithful songs to the Mandarin-speaking church globally. The release aims to unify believers across cultures and languages through shared worship.
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Singaporean pastors addressed conflicting data showing increased baptisms alongside a drop in the Christian resident population. The State of the Church survey reported higher salvations across 122 churches, while the General Household Survey indicated a decline. Leaders from 3:16 Church, Pentecost Methodist Church, and City Harvest Church attributed the disparity to weak discipleship, consumerism, and pandemic-induced remote worship habits. They emphasized that retention requires holistic spiritual formation, community accountability, and strong home-based faith practices rather than focusing solely on initial conversions. This analysis highlights the need for churches to improve long-term member engagement to reverse attrition trends.
Church leaders in Singapore discussed the State of the Church Annual Survey 2026 findings at Fairfield Methodist Church. The report, based on data from 122 churches, shows a rise in attendance but highlights concerns about retention and demographic aging. Panelists including Rev Wendy Tay and Pastor Andre Tan questioned whether the church is effectively disciplining new converts. They emphasized that while numbers may look healthy, the underlying spiritual roots and long-term sustainability require deeper attention. The discussion also addressed the need for culturally relevant evangelism and the challenges of keeping younger generations engaged in an aging religious landscape.
The Koinonia Inclusion Network (KIN) has released a free electronic guidebook to assist Singaporean churches in creating disability-inclusive events. Endorsed by the National Council of Churches of Singapore, the Inclusive Events Guidelines (IEG) provides a practical checklist for planners. It covers principles of access, belonging, and contribution, while addressing diverse needs such as mobility, sensory, and cognitive challenges. The resource aims to foster genuine inclusion rather than temporary adjustments. This initiative follows previous efforts by KIN to support special needs inclusion within local congregations.
A Christian woman from a village in Yunnan, China, and a missionary from North Sumatra, Indonesia, met in Singapore. The man received a vision during a retreat, which he later understood as referring to the woman. They connected via social media after she added him during a mission trip to Africa. Despite family pressure for her to marry non-believers, she prayed for a partner who served God. He, feeling lonely and burnt out, had previously sold his possessions to join a mission program. They now serve together, having found each other through their shared faith and missionary work.
Alexander Ee, a former corporate executive in Singapore, walked 925 kilometers across France and Spain to process the grief of his wife’s death. The pilgrimage helped him find a new mission, leading him to serve as Executive Director of ACMI, which supports migrants in Singapore. He recently published a book about the journey and will walk another route in September to raise funds for the organization. The experience transformed his outlook, encouraging him to connect with strangers and embrace vulnerability. This story highlights how personal loss can lead to renewed community service and spiritual growth.
Nicky Gumbel, founder of the Alpha Course, spoke at Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church in Singapore during the Alpha Workplace Conference. He told the congregation that the best life vision is joining Jesus' mission to share the Gospel and heal the sick. Gumbel highlighted that modern society is the most connected yet loneliest generation, citing anxiety and depression as urgent needs. He emphasized that experiencing God's love through the Holy Spirit drives compassion for others. Gumbel also stressed the necessity of consistent prayer for effective evangelism, noting the vast potential for spiritual harvest in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.
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