Strengthening our Congregations
By Ps Dev Menon
Highlights from our 32nd Anniversary Service, 31 October 2026
(Acts 14:21-23)
What a joy it was to celebrate 32 years of God’s faithfulness together, haze and all! Before we looked ahead, we looked back at how congregations all began:
Our Tamil congregation was born out of Zion Serangoon’s prison outreach in 1984. The Cantonese service began at the Ling Kwang Home in 1991, and the 10.30 congregation was gathered in 1992 to be sent to Bishan. Then came the 8.30, the Mandarin-English, Hokkien, the DHF, and most recently Terusan among our migrant brothers. When COVID capped us at 50, God used it to turn our “services” into congregations, each now a fixed group with shepherds to disciple and care for them. Today we are 10 groups, or 8+2 congregations.
But as we begin our “2nd season”, one word stands before us: strengthening. Before we think about growing bigger, planting churches or multiplying congregations, we must first be strong.
That is the pattern of Acts 14. Paul preached the gospel and made many disciples. Then he went back to those same churches to strengthen them. It is the word Jesus used when He told Peter, “when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Paul strengthened the churches in three ways:
- Through the Word. He exhorted or urged them to continue in the faith.
- Preparing for suffering. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
- Establishing leadership. He appointed elders in every church to grow and defend the flock.
Think of our level 5 works. Before BCA allows another storey, it asks whether the structure is strong enough. You want to grow bigger? Then you need to get stronger.
So in our 2nd season we will focus on training and sending. Leaders will be sent from AG to AG, from congregation to congregation, and even across the denomination. For example, at the end of November, around 10 trained leaders from the 4.30 congregation will move to the 10.30 congregation. It is a real loss and a real sacrifice, and it is the first of many such movements.
Yet we believe that, as in Acts, if we focus on strengthening, then we will grow and send out more for the kingdom. We become stronger so that God’s kingdom can grow bigger.
We noted that all our strength comes from the Lord. It does not come from our gifts, our size or our experience. It comes from the grace of God, for the glory of God. As some of us were reminded at the BPCIS 15th Anniversary: “Restored people make the best strengtheners.”
Watch the full sermon here: https://youtu.be/akVT_ykqZdo?si=3E5erfHaBuFg1lu2
