Missions Month in Hermon (Part 2 of 2)
- MHBPC Admin
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
In our second editorial on the National Survey of Missions in Singapore1, let’s reflect on the final six key findings. May I highlight point #7 (short-term missions trip) and also point #10 (doorstep missions) for our deeper reflection.
Pastor Daniel Tan
#5: Only 4% of missions partnerships are related to Bible translation
The top three things that Singapore churches partner Christians on the mission field to do are: Church planting (65%), community relief and social welfare (56%) and church training (55%).
Meanwhile, only 4% are involved with Bible translation.
#6: Non-traditional missions workers seek more flexible and diversified missions training
Based on the focus group discussions, participants suggested that:
Local seminaries and missions-training centres diversify their curriculum and allow more flexibility, such as on-field modules for non-traditional missions workers.
Missions candidates be sent for formal training in a school outside of Singapore, where the socio-cultural context is more similar to their mission field.
Bi-vocational workers or tentmakers consider relevant internships in Singapore and/or on the mission field, to develop business acuity and acumen.
Experienced mission workers provide mentorship to the younger generation of missions workers.
#7: Short-term mission trips can be more intentional
When asked about the desired outcomes of short-term mission trips, the top three reasons churches cited were:
To support the ministry of their missions partners (69%)
To give their members an experience of missions (54%)
To nurture long-term relationships in the other country (32%)
The top three main activities conducted during short-term mission trips were:
Church events (69%)
Community outreach and improvement (50%)
Training ministry leaders (49%)
Reflections from missions leaders - Short-term mission trips risk becoming an end in themselves, seeing that the most common activities are church events and community outreach, they noted.
“Short-term mission trip teams have to be careful not to be too focussed on their programmes and goals on the trips, and instead be intentional in building relationships and understanding the local community,” they said.
To cultivate a missional mindset in their members, churches must preach about missions at the pulpit regularly.
They pointed to some churches that conduct more in-depth pre-trip preparation and post-trip follow-up, including biblical and cross-cultural training, pre-trip engagement with leaders on the mission field, and concerted follow-up efforts.
In addition, they encouraged churches to intentionally build missions communities, for example by continually praying for and engaging with those on the field, as well as organising annual gatherings that help mission trippers share and connect.
Finally, the group urged churches to take the focus of short-term mission trips off the Singapore team and instead consider how to empower communities in the mission field.
#8: More than 80% of churches preach about missions, but only 6% of churches have an altar call for missions
Churches with a vibrant missions ministry integrate missions into church life, instead of seeing missions as a separate ministry for some, noted researchers.
When assessing the frequency of missions activities conducted in local churches, the study found, among other things, that:
85% of churches preach about missions during Missions Sunday or Missions Month, but only 20% of churches do it throughout the year.
83% of churches engage in regular short-term mission trips, but only 24% of churches teach members to befriend those of different cultures and religions.
Only 6% of churches have an altar call for missions at least once a year.
Reflections from missions leaders - To cultivate a missional mindset in their members, churches must preach about missions at the pulpit regularly, teach children and youth about missions (which 55% of churches already do) and encourage members to engage with people of other cultures and religions in Singapore.
They added that “strategically planned short-term missions trips and well-informed prayer guides encourage consistent whole-church involvement in missions”.
#9: About 1 in 5 of churches do not train their missions leaders
Close to 70% of churches send their missions leaders and committee members to missions-related conferences and seminars like GoForth and Antioch 21, while nearly half send their missions leaders for church-run missions programmes.
About 20% send their missions leaders for more formal training, including a missions-related degree at a theological college and training courses by a missions school or agency,
However, 22% of churches do not have any training programmes for their missions leaders.
#10: Close to 60% of churches are involved in doorstep missions
Of the 98 churches that participated in the survey, 56 were involved in doorstep missions reaching out to migrant workers, domestic workers, healthcare workers, international students and their mothers, and expatriates of various nationalities.
A quarter of these churches started their ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic, while about half of them have been engaged in their ministries for over 10 years.
The study noted that these ministries vary: Some churches have set up separate language-based fellowships and church services, while others have integrated the foreigners into their services. Still others only engage the foreigners through outreach activities.
Reflections from missions leaders: Singapore churches should use “contextualised worship and culturally relevant discipleship” so that these foreigners can integrate more seamlessly back into their communities when they return home, as well as know how to share their faith in socially appropriate ways, said missions leaders.
Full National Missions Survey 2024 report at https://www.scgm.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NMS2024_Report.pdf
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The Great Commission is realised when we prioritise prayer, for that is our Lord’s command. Lk10:2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.
And when we do, we will be surprised to realise that God will enable us to be part of the solution to our prayers.
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