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Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
We just got back from Good Friday services at our church. I was late. The reason: crowds required that I drop Faith off and go find a parking place. I finally got to church about 15 minutes late. Every seat was packed, shoulder to shoulder, stranding room only, for a 10:00 AM service. I am constantly amazed by the Christians of Singapore.
I am particularly amazed by their financial giving. A new missionary at our school raised their support in Singapore in about two weeks! The average American missionary spends two years in support raising. Our little church averages 500 every Sunday (this is small by Singapore standards). The annual budget is $1,850,000!!!!! They have no difficulty making the budget. There are six full time pastors and three full time administrative assistants. This means the average annual giving, per person in attendance is something like $3,650!!!! Even if you adjust from Singapore to American dollars, they are still giving about $2,500 US per person, per year. Amazing! On top of this, our church is a lower middle class, extremely young church. In addition, there are income taxes in Singapore and there is no income tax deduction for charitable giving! I know Singapore is a wealthy country, but by no means is there standard of living higher than that of the US.
All in all, this a remarkable place for many reasons. We continue to see why Billy Graham called Singapore the "Antioch of Asia." This is true in many ways including the faithfulness of the Christian community.
Verse of the week: "There is one who scatters and yet increases all the more and there is one who withholds what is due but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered." Proverbs 11:24-25
All our love in Jesus,
Chris and Faith in Singapore
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