Adventist Crossroads
November - December 1997

Evangelism in Singapore
Russell Burrill

Evangelism in one of the most secular cities of the Orient is both challenging and rewarding. When we first received the invitation to conduct a series of public evangelistic meetings in Singapore in December of 1997, the island city state was only a remote dot on a global map. However, today its wonderful people have created a forever warm spot in our hearts.
Many had wondered if public evangelism could still work in the secular environs of this Oriental metroplex, with only 12% of the population Christian. Would people come out to hear an American evangelist and would they continue to come out night after night. Previous attempts at holding meetings, we had been told resulted in the loss of the crowd after just four evenings. Many felt that two weeks of meetings would not be able to sustain the crowd.
Everything seemed against success. The mind-set of the people was that it would not work. The meetings were scheduled for December when nearly half the membership of Singapore would be out of the country, and the remaining people would be busy with Christmas preparations. Furthermore, the meetings were scheduled to begin on a Monday night rather than an easier week-end evening. In addition, the two week series was scheduled with only one night off. We would go ten straight nights. Even in America, I would never attempt this kind of schedule and expect people to come out.
Furthermore, our personal lives were shattered as we prepared to enter this Crusade. As soon as we arrived in Singapore, we received word that Cynthia's father had suffered a heart attack and was in very serious condition in the hospital. The next day he died. We wondered what to do. We had come so far and yet our family needed us back in Michigan. As we prayed and talked we came to the decision that God would want us to stay and conduct the Crusade. While this was one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make, we do not regret it. Our family was supportive of the decision and asked us to conduct this meeting as a memorial to Cynthia's dad. The results of these meetings affirmed us that we had made the right decision.
What happened in Singapore gave ample evidence that the Holy Spirit can work through almost every obstacle that can be erected. On the Friday evening preceding the meetings a special prayer service was held at Balister Rd. church, where members in Singapore came together to pray for the outpouring of the Spirit on the meetings. As a result of a prayer hearing God, on opening night, PUB Auditorium was comfortably filled with around 300 people, many of them visitors. The crowd continued without slippage for the four nights the crusade was held in the PUB auditorium. On the last night there, an invitation was given to accept Jesus as one's personal Savior and many individuals responded to that invitation.
After four nights, the meetings transferred to I believe not only could they sustain the attendance, but they would also reap a much larger harvest by continuing the meetings over a longer time. In short I found little difference in the response of Singaporeans to the Adventist message through public evangelism than I have experienced in similar crusades in America.
Events in the future may make it difficult to conduct public meetings like this. However, at the present time, it is still a very feasible method of reaching the harvest that God wants to reach in Singapore. 1997 has been a discouraging year for Singaporean Adventists with the loss of the hospital, the college, and the Division. Yet the future is still bright, because God has many stars that are yet to shine forth out of the darkness of a life without Christ. It is the privilege of Singaporeans to go forth and fan the flame that was ignited in December of 1997 by bringing many precious souls to the light of God's Son.

The Coordinator's Perspective on Evangelism in Singapore
Danson Ng
Evangelism Coordinator

It was, indeed, the event of 1997 for the Mission and the churches. From the very first night when Russell and Cynthia Burrill and Daniel Mckibeen presented the series there was a good attendance. This did not diminish even when the meetings were shifted to the Balestier Church after the fourth night. In fact, the attendance held and built up to more than 400 people during the final night of the meeting (not counting the children meeting in another part of the building). Many car had to be turned away due to overcrowding in the car park.
A total of 247 non-members attended the meetings. Forty-seven percent of the non-members were brought by church members. About 33 persons accepted Christ as their personal Savior and indicated their desire to prepare for baptism.
Several factors contributed to the success of the effort: (1) the one-and-a-half year of emphasis and ground preparation, (2) the unity and the cooperation of church members and pastors, (3) the interesting, inspirational and practical presentations, (4) most importantly the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit on those who were seeking and longing for the truth that can only be found in a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
When believers work together in the spirit of love, unity and passion for souls they manifest what true discipleship of Christ is. The spirit of evangelism has been renewed through this evangelistic effort and the hope of expanding God's kingdom in Singapore is bright before us. Let us continue to press on and hold up the torch of evangelism high in this closing days of earth's history.

Winning a Stranger
David Kam
Balestier Seventh-day Adventist Church

Some time in November just before the Crusade, Steve Guptill took a taxi to the United Square. The driver, a young man, started asking him about the banner outside the Balestier Church. He was interest in the Book of Revelation and the Mark of the Beast.
Not long after, Steve had to leave for the Philippines. He recommended this young man to our church pastor for follow-up. The young man was invited to the screening of the video series by Mark Finley. He came regularly and a number of us befriended him.
He attended the Amazing Facts Crusade and enrolled in the Amazing Facts Bible Study course. So far he has completed 14 lessons. He told me that while researching at the public library he suddenly realized that indeed the seventh day of the week is Saturday. We praise God for this. Please pray with me that he will continue to come to church and fellowship.
Friends, it's not difficult to win souls to Christ if we be friends with them, meet their needs and love them and fellowship with them.