SINGAPORE
2 Contents A Letter to Church and Christian Ministry Leaders 3 Are We Connecting with the Next Generation? 4 What We Learned 4 Connection Points 5 6 7 8 Christian Organizations 9 How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 10 Programs and Activities 11 Evangelism 13 Discipleship 15 Scripture Engagement 17 Youth Leadership 19 Holistic Ministry 21 Ministries that Click-to-Connect 23 Value, Access and Use of Technology 23 Connecting the Dots, Illuminating the Needs 26 Gospel Reach in Singapore 28 Appendix 31 About, Special Thanks and Contact 38
A Letter to Church and Christian Ministry Leaders Since it was founded in 1987, OneHope has been focused on transforming the eternal lives of children and youth around the world through God s Word. As an outcome-based ministry, we start by identifying a desired result, then build a program to achieve that purpose. Research has proven to be key to our efforts, as we consider the heartfelt needs of children and youth around the world. This research initiative gathers data about how churches and Christian organizations in more than 40 countries are reaching the children and youth of their nation with the Gospel message. Our goal is to share actionable insights with the Church and other Christian ministries around the world, equipping them to make an even bigger impact for Christ. This report, created in partnership with the American Bible Society and Bible Society of Singapore, reveals the state of ministry to Singapore s children and youth. Importantly, it sheds light on both successes and gaps opportunities to reach even more young people. We invite you to dig in and uncover a wealth of information that will help to make your ministry even more effective. Prayerfully, we hope the findings here offer fresh inspiration to you and your team and that they can help you usher in a season of divine change for the young people in your sphere of influence. We are excited about the doors this can open for your ministry, the Church and for the Gospel! Rev. Jeremy West Regional Director, Asia Pacific OneHope 3
Are We Connecting with the Next Generation? 4 Finding the answer to this question is a top priority for the Church. Its importance sparked an international research project in 40 nations. The investigative effort was designed to capture information and identify trends about how the Church is reaching children and youth with Christ s message of salvation. In Singapore, we surveyed 125 churches and/or Christian organizations, documenting how each interact with the next generation. The findings reveal important outreach gaps, ministry opportunities and evangelistic trends. All provide insights that support Singapore s churches and Christian organizations as they seek ways to better share Christ with the next generation. Singapore, as a nation, is home to diverse faith backgrounds. The majority of Singaporeans practice Buddhism (34%) 1, Christianity (18%) and Islam (14%). About 22% practice no religion. Of the 5.5 million 2 residents, about 1 million (18%) are aged 5 to 19. What We Learned Scripture shares God s passion for bringing the world s young people into a relationship with Him. He also casts a vision for how we, as His followers are to help them. Helping change the hearts and minds of Singapore s next generation has eternal importance for them as individuals, of course. But it also has the potential to change the nation for future generations. This survey solicited feedback from many ministry teams about Singapore s young people. In this report, children are categorized as ages 5 to 12 and youth are categorized as ages 13 to 19. These categories are further split into older and younger. Younger children are ages 5 to 9; older children are ages 10 to 12; younger youth are ages 13 to 16; and older youth are ages 17 to 19. Ultimately we wanted to know how effectively the Church was spreading the Gospel among these age groups in Singapore. To measure this Gospel Reach, we looked at interactions where churches presented the Gospel directly to children and youth. Key Findings SINGAPORE Among the ministry activities explored, churches in Singapore place the strongest emphasis on those related to Youth Leadership development. Far more of the churches and Christian organizations surveyed reported growth rather than decline in their ministries to children and youth. 1 http://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/ cop2010/census_2010_release1/cop2010sr1.pdf 2 http://www.singstat.gov.sg/statistics/latest-data#14
5 Connection Points Where do children youth go in their spare time, after school, on the weekends, or while mom and dad are at work? Churches and ministries around the globe can be an attractive option because they often offer more than just a religious experience. They may be a safe place to connect with friends, as well as a source of emotional support, and even food and clothing. Regardless of size or outreach focus, each uses its resources staff, volunteers and facility location to change eternity for the young people they serve. In Singapore, 110 of the 372 Protestant churches listed in the National Council of Churches (Singapore) Directory participated in our survey. This sample includes a variety of denominations, congregation sizes and population densities. For the purposes of reference and categorization, each responding church was grouped by attendance as Small (with 1-250 people regularly attending), Medium (with 251-500 attending) or Large (with 501+ attending). These labels reflect attendance only and do not indicate any judgment of value between or among churches of varying size. In addition to churches, we surveyed and analyzed data from 15 Christian organizations. Attendance: 1-250 Surveys: 40 Attendance: 251-500 Surveys: 23 Attendance: 501+ Surveys: 47 Christian Organizations Attendance: n/a Surveys: 15 16.3% Children 5.0% Youth Pastor 17.5% Children s Pastor 42.5% Housing Estate 22.5% City Centre Surveys Staff Location 22.5% Children & Youth Pastor 55.0% None of the Above 35.0% Location 16.9% 10.2% Youth Youth 18.7% Children 10.2% Children Surveys 18.2% Youth Pastor 18.2% Children s Pastor 52.2% Housing Estate Staff 13.0% City Centre Location 13.6% Children & Youth Pastor 50.0% None of the Above 34.8% Location 40.4% Children s Pastor 17% None of the Above 48.9% Housing Estate 27.7% City Centre Surveys Staff Location 18.1% Youth 40.4% Children & Youth Pastor 23.4% Location 4.8% Youth 4.8% Children 57.1% Housing Estate 21.4% City Centre Surveys Staff Housing: About 80% of the resident population of Singapore lives in these publicly developed and governed flats, which are part of larger housing estates or self-contained satellite towns. These estates have their own schools, shopping centers and more. Locations: These areas are comprised of clusters of privately owned houses or condos found outside of the Central Business District. : The core financial and commercial districts make up the or Central Business District. City churches are those located within the city business and commercial zones. 2.1% Youth Pastor Location n/a 21.4% Location
Connection Points 6 : 1-250 people regularly attending Found slightly more often in Heartland/ HDB housing areas, 55% of participating Small churches have no dedicated pastor for ministering to children or youth. Yet, almost a quarter have one or more pastors for both age groups. Youth Leadership, Scripture Engagement and Discipleship activities are most common among Small churches. When considering individual programs, Small churches rated church camps and retreats as most important, followed by mission trips, personal mentoring, leadership training/development and personto-person evangelism. Small Church Activities Holistic Ministry 3.4 Youth Leadership 7.0 Evangelism 5.2 Discipleship 6.3 Scripture Engagement 6.5 Ministry Growth: More than half of Small churches reported no growth and no decline in their children s and youth ministries in the previous two years. Small churches saw the highest growth rates with children ages 5 to 9. Reach: Small churches in our study reached an average of 93 children and 28 youth with the Gospel in the past year. Two-Year Growth Trends in Children s, Youth Ministries 70% 60% 50% 68.0% 61.5% 53.6% 50.0% age 5 9 age 10 12 40% 30% 20% 10% 11.5% 4.0% 17.9% 7.7% 30.8% 24.0% 17.9% 19.2% 7.7% 4.0% 7.1% 3.8% 0.0% age 13 16 age 17 19 7.7% 3.6% 0.0% Increased by more than 10% Increased by 10% or less Stayed about the same Decreased by 10% or less Decreased by more than 10%
Connection Points 7 : 251-500 people regularly attending More represented in housing estates, half of reporting Medium churches have no pastors dedicated to ministry to children or youth. Medium churches placed a strong emphasis on Youth Leadership, giving it the highest priority among ministry programs. Among individual activities, Medium churches considered church camps, youth group, personal mentoring and Sunday school as the most important. Ministry Growth: More than one third of Medium churches experienced growth over the past two years. The most significant growth was seen with younger youth (ages 13 to 16). Medium Church Activities Holistic Ministry 3.2 Youth Leadership 7.3 Evangelism 4.7 Discipleship 6.2 Scripture Engagement 6.0 Reach: Medium churches in our study reached an average of 68 children and 39 youth with the Gospel in the past year. Two-Year Growth Trends in Children s, Youth Ministries 50% 40% 35.3% 40.0% 41.2% 47.1% age 5 9 age 10 12 30% 20% 11.8% 13.3% 23.5% 29.4% 29.4% 26.7% 23.5% 23.5% 20.0% 11.8% age 13 16 age 17 19 10% 5.9% 5.9% 5.9% 5.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0% Increased by more than 10% Increased by 10% or less Stayed about the same Decreased by 10% or less Decreased by more than 10%
Connection Points 8 : 501+ people regularly attending Nearly half of the Large churches surveyed are located in housing estates. The rest were fairly evenly divided between suburban and areas. About 40% of Large churches have one or more pastors that serve children and youth. Yet, 17% have no pastor for either age group. Of program types measured, Large churches attributed the greatest value to Youth Leadership. Among individual activities, church camps/ retreats, personal mentoring, mission trips, music ministry and youth group had the greatest importance. Of the 47 responding Large churches, 11 can be categorized as megachurches, with regular attendance of more than 2,000. They represent a range of denominational blocs, including Independents, Pentecostals, Anglicans and Methodists. Ministry Growth: Large churches in our sample reported the largest growth and the smallest declines across church sizes for the preceding two years. The greatest reported decline was for older children (ages 10 to 12). Reach: Large churches in our study reached an average of 227 children and 181 youth with the Gospel in the past year. Large Church Activities Holistic Ministry 3.6 Youth Leadership 8.1 Evangelism 5.6 Discipleship 6.4 Scripture Engagement 6.4 Two-Year Growth Trends in Children s, Youth Ministries 40% 30% 20% 38.7% 38.7% 39.3% 37.9% 34.5% 32.1% 29.0% 25.8% 25.8% 25.0% 24.1% 22.6% age 5 9 age 10 12 age 13 16 age 17 19 9.7% 10% 3.2% 3.6% 3.4% 3.2% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0% Increased by more than 10% Increased by 10% or less Stayed about the same Decreased by 10% or less Decreased by more than 10%
Connection Points 9 Christian Organizations: More than half of the 15 Christian Organizations that participated in the survey are headquartered in areas. The remaining organizations were equally represented in suburban locales and the. Most of these describe themselves as parachurch organizations and ministry networks. Christian Organization Activities Evangelism 4.4 Almost half of the surveyed organizations evenly divide their work between direct ministry and resourcing/supporting other ministries. Holistic Ministry 3.6 Discipleship 4.2 Most of these organizations focus their efforts on evangelism and discipleship. Only one has a more holistic focus. Profile of Surveyed Christian Organizations Youth Leadership 5.0 Scripture Engagement 4.2 Other 2 NGO/VWO 1 MINISTRY TYPE Parachurch Organization 8 Ministry Network 4 Direct Ministry 4 MINISTRY FOOTPRINT Resources/ Support 4 Both Equally 7 Other 1 MINISTRY FOCUS Evangelism 6 Discipleship 8 Ministry Growth: While not nationally representative, the Christian organizations surveyed generally experienced growth over the past two years. Two-Year Growth Trends in Children s, Youth Ministries 50% 40% 30% 20% 33.3% 28.6% 16.7% 16.7% 42.9% 50.0% 16.7% 16.7% 28.6% 33.3% 33.3% 50.0% 16.7% 16.7% age 5 9 age 10 12 age 13 16 age 17 19 10% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Increased by more than 10% Increased by 10% or less Stayed about the same Decreased by 10% or less Decreased by more than 10%
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 10 Bringing the next generation to Salvation through Christ is hard work that can demand a lot of planning, patience and creativity. The beautiful end result is a loving relationship with Christ! To explore how ministries are connecting with young audiences to help accomplish this, our survey captured data on 25 different activities from all organization types plus an additional 16 from churches only. The findings were aggregated to analyze five main types of ministry programs: Evangelism, Discipleship, Scripture Engagement, Youth Leadership and Holistic Ministry. Scores were calculated on a 10-point scale based on the importance and frequency reported for specific ministry activities. These scores do not reflect the strength of the surveyed programs, just the church s commitment to them. A score of 10 represents the highest frequency and/or importance. In Singapore we found that: The importance and frequency of Youth Leadership related activities increased with church size. Holistic Ministry rated lower than any other ministry type across all organizations. Ministry Types by Organization Type Activities Evangelism 5.2 Large Activities Evangelism 5.6 Holistic Ministry 3.4 Discipleship 6.3 Holistic Ministry 3.6 Discipleship 6.4 Youth Leadership 7.0 Scripture Engagement 6.5 Youth Leadership 8.1 Scripture Engagement 6.4 Activities Evangelism 4.7 Christian Organizations Activities Evangelism 4.4 Holistic Ministry 3.2 Discipleship 6.2 Holistic Ministry 3.6 Discipleship 4.2 Youth Leadership 7.3 Scripture Engagement 6.0 Youth Leadership 5.0 Scripture Engagement 4.2 Note: Christian organization surveys differed slightly from those filled out by churches. Results for Christian organizations cannot be directly compared to those of churches.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 11 Programs and Activities Variety is the spice of life, and ministry too. Because no single ministry model can meet the need of every community, a variety of activities are used to reach children and youth. In Singapore, churches and Christian organizations employ a broad spectrum of programs. Among the surveyed organizations, church camps or retreats, youth group, and personal mentoring were the most common programs targeted to young people. Participation in Individual Activities CHURCH CAMPS OR RETREATS YOUTH GROUP* ** PERSONAL MENTORING PERSON-TO-PERSON EVANGELISM LEADERSHIP TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT MISSION TRIPS MUSIC MINISTRY SUNDAY SCHOOL* BIBLE CLUBS OR BIBLE STUDY LARGE EVANGELISTIC/OUTREACH EVENT AUDIO-VISUAL, MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY CONFLICT RESOLUTION** CATECHISM OR OTHER SPIRITUAL FORMATION SEX EDUCATION LIFE SKILLS TRAINING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN'S CHURCH* *** SCRIPTURE/LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION EVANGELISM SOCIAL MEDIA MINISTRY* SPORTS MINISTRY OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS LITERACY PROGRAMS ORPHAN OR AT-RISK CHILDREN'S CARE DRAMA MINISTRY CHURCH PLANTING MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION OR TRAUMA RECOVERY MAGAZINE MINISTRY* MINISTRY TO YOUTH IN JAIL OR PRISON** MINISTRY TO CHILDREN WITH PARENTS IN PRISON*** 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% * These programs were not present in the Christian organization survey. ** These programs were not present in the children s church survey. *** These programs were not present in the youth church survey.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 12 Participation in Individual Activities Children vs. Youth Looking at programs that are offered for both children and youth, we see the largest differences in participation rates for social media ministry, and Sunday school. Church camps or retreats and person-to-person evangelism represent some of the lowest differentials. CHURCH CAMPS OR RETREATS PERSON-TO-PERSON EVANGELISM LITERACY PROGRAMS LEADERSHIP TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT CHURCH PLANTING OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION OR TRAUMA RECOVERY ORPHAN OR AT-RISK CHILDREN'S CARE YOUTH CHILDREN DRAMA MINISTRY LIFE SKILLS TRAINING LARGE EVANGELISTIC/OUTREACH EVENT MAGAZINE MINISTRY CATECHISM OR OTHER SPIRITUAL FORMATION SPORTS MINISTRY MISSION TRIPS SEX EDUCATION SCRIPTURE/LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION EVANGELISM PERSONAL MENTORING BIBLE CLUBS OR BIBLE STUDY MUSIC MINISTRY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AUDIO-VISUAL, MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIAL MEDIA MINISTRY 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 13 Evangelism If we believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him, then we must also believe that we are called to share this truth with the world and with all generations, including children and youth. To evaluate evangelism efforts in Singapore aimed at the next generation, we focused survey questions on four specific ministry activities. Both churches and Christian organizations were scored based on how they ranked the importance of these activities: Person-to-person evangelism Scripture/literature distribution for evangelization Large evangelistic/outreach events Importance of Evangelism Activities by Organization Type : Importance Person-to- Person 5.8 : Importance Person-to- Person 4.2 Children Youth Scripture Distribution Large Events Person-to - Person Scripture Distribution 2.5 3.5 4.5 6.2 Children Youth Scripture Distribution Large Events Person-to- Person Scripture Distribution 3.3 2.9 5.6 5.0 Large Events 3.9 Large Events 3.6 : Importance Person-to- Person 5.6 Christian Organizations: Importance Person-to- Person 5.9 Children Youth Scripture Distribution Large Events Person-to- Person Scripture Distribution 2.7 4.1 6.2 6.6 Children Youth Scripture Distribution Large Events Person-to- Person Scripture Distribution 2.2 3.6 6.0 6.1 Large Events 5.0 Large Events 1.9 To further understand the commitment of Singapore s churches to prepare the next generation to introduce Christ to others, they were asked how often they: Teach children and/or youth to share their faith with non-believers.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 14 Frequency of Evangelism Activities by Organization Type C Y : Frequency Taught to Share Their Faith Taught to Share Their Faith : Frequency 7.0 Taught to Share 6.8 6.7 C Y Their Faith Taught to Share Their Faith 6.8 : Frequency C Y Taught to Share Their Faith Taught to Share Their Faith 6.5 7.0 Note: All scores are delivered on a 10-point scale. Observations: Churches placed the greatest value on teaching children and youth to share their faith with others and on person-to-person evangelism. Large evangelistic events for children were considered more important than those for youth.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 15 Discipleship Helping young believers develop a mature relationship with Christ to intentionally apply Biblical principles in the routines of life happens through Discipleship. Teaching the next generation to lean on the Lord in this way is foundational to transforming their spiritual lives. To measure the scope of the Discipleship efforts being conducted in Singapore, seven activities were considered. Churches were asked to rate the importance of the following four activities, and Christian organizations were asked to rate all except Sunday school: Sunday school Bible clubs or Bible studies Catechism or other spiritual formation Discipleship of young people Importance of Discipleship Activities by Organization Type : Importance Sunday School 8.6 : Importance Sunday School 9.2 Children Bible Clubs/ Studies Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 3.6 5.4 Children Bible Clubs/ Studies Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 2.8 4.1 Sunday School 5.7 Sunday School 5.1 Youth Bible Clubs/ Studies 7.5 Youth Bible Clubs/ Studies 6.7 Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 4.0 Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 3.7 : Importance Sunday School 6.9 Christian Organizations: Importance Children Bible Clubs/ Studies Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 3.8 4.6 Children Bible Clubs/ Studies Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 2.9 7.1 Sunday School 5.4 Youth Bible Clubs/ Studies Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 4.0 7.0 Youth Bible Clubs/ Studies Chatechism/ Spiritual Formation 2.9 3.3 0 = no Discipleship activities, 10 = frequent Discipleship activities Additionally churches were evaluated based on how often they invested in endeavors that mature a young person s walk of faith. These activities included: Teaching children and/or youth to make life decisions based on God s Scriptural guidance Teaching children and/or youth to develop a habit of prayer Teaching parents to rear their children and/or youth according to Biblical principles
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 16 Frequency of Discipleship Activities by Organization Type : Frequency : Frequency Taught Life Decisions Based on Scripture 7.2 Taught Life Decisions Based on Scripture 7.9 Children Taught Habit of Prayer 7.9 Children Taught Habit of Prayer 8.5 Parents Taught Biblical Child-Rearing 5.2 Parents Taught Biblical Child-Rearing 6.2 Taught Life Decisions Based on Scripture 7.7 Taught Life Decisions Based on Scripture 8.3 Youth Taught Habit of Prayer 7.0 Youth Taught Habit of Prayer 7.3 Parents Taught Biblical Child-Rearing 3.9 Parents Taught Biblical Child-Rearing 5.0 : Frequency Taught Life Decisions Based on Scripture 7.4 Children Taught Habit of Prayer 7.9 Parents Taught Biblical Child-Rearing 6.8 Youth Taught Life Decisions Based on Scripture Taught Habit of Prayer 8.2 8.6 Parents Taught Biblical Child-Rearing 6.0 0 = no Discipleship activities, 10 = frequent Discipleship activities Observations: For churches, teaching children and youth a habit of prayer and teaching them to make life decisions with the guidance of Scripture were the most valued Discipleship activities. Sunday school for children was considered significantly more important than Sunday school for youth. But the reverse was true for youth Bible clubs and studies. The Christian organizations surveyed place more importance on Bible clubs and studies for children than do churches, but they place less importance than churches on the same activities for youth.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 17 Scripture Engagement It s no secret that the more time we spend with those we care about, the closer we feel to them. Engaging with Scripture interacting with God through His Word as it was delivered to us gives us direct access to the Lord. It provides a window through which we can better understand who He is and how much He loves us. Encouraging children and youth to connect with Him in this way is critical to their faith walk. In evaluating Scripture Engagement in Singapore, four ministry activities were considered. Among churches and Christian organizations, these activities were evaluated based on importance: Scripture/literature distribution for evangelization Bible Clubs or Bible studies Importance of Scripture Engagement by Organization Type : Importance : Importance Children Youth Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies 2.6 3.3 5.7 7.6 Children Youth Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies 2.9 3.3 3.5 6.2 : Importance Christian Organizations: Importance Children Youth Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies 2.6 4.0 4.6 6.8 Children Youth Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies Scripture Distribution Bible Clubs/ Studies 2.2 3.3 3.6 7.1 0 = no engagement activities, 10 = frequent engagement activities Churches responded to a separate set of questions measuring the frequency of activities offered that provide a deeper understanding of Scripture and establish a day-to-day dependence on God s Word. The activities evaluated included: Encouraging children and/or youth to personally engage with Scripture Teaching children and/or youth to make life decisions based on God s Scriptural guidance
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 18 Frequency of Scripture Engagement by Organization Type Children Youth : Frequency Teaching Life Decisions Based on Scripture Encouraging Personal Engagement with Scripture Teaching Life Decisions Based on Scripture Encouraging Personal Engagement with Scripture 7.4 8.4 7.8 8.1 Children Youth : Frequency Teaching Life Decisions Based on Scripture Encouraging Personal Engagement with Scripture Teaching Life Decisions Based on Scripture Encouraging Personal Engagement with Scripture 7.7 8.4 8.4 8.4 Children Youth : Frequency Teaching Life Decisions Based on Scripture Encouraging Personal Engagement with Scripture Teaching Life Decisions Based on Scripture Encouraging Personal Engagement with Scripture 7.6 8.1 8.5 8.7 0 = no engagement activities, 10 = frequent engagement activities Observations: The importance and frequency of the surveyed Scripture engagement activities is similar for all organization types. Bible clubs and Bible studies were the exception, as churches considered it more important for youth and Christian organizations considered it more important for children. Among these activities, Scripture distribution for evangelism purposes was the least valued.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 19 Youth Leadership Jesus knew that the Church would need leadership once He left this earth. As a result, He invested in the lives of his disciples, preparing them to assume the mantle of authority. Just as Christ knew back then, we know today that raising up the next generation of Christian leaders is critical to the health of the Church. For this reason, we evaluated Singapore s ministries efforts to grow future leaders. Five specific ministry activities related to Youth Leadership were assessed. Collectively, churches and Christian organizations reported on the importance of: Leadership training and development for youth (ages 13 to 19) Importance of Youth Leadership Activities by Organization Type : Importance Youth Leadership Training : Importance Youth Leadership Training 6.8 6.1 : Importance Youth Leadership Training Christian Organizations: Importance Youth Leadership Training 8.1 5.0 0 = no evangelism activities, 10 = frequent evangelism activities Additionally, churches were evaluated based on how often they invested in activities focused on some foundational elements of leadership. For this, they provided details about their efforts to: Teach youth to disciple others Teach youth to serve in the local church body Provide opportunities for youth to take leadership roles Frequency of Youth Leadership Activities by Organization Type : Frequency Activities Teaching Discipleship of Others 5.6 : Frequency Activities Teaching Discipleship of Others 6.7 Training to Serve the Church 7.8 Training to Serve the Church 8.2 Opportunities for Leadership Roles 7.1 Opportunities for Leadership Roles 8.3 : Frequency Activities Teaching Discipleship of Others Training to Serve the Church Opportunities for Leadership Roles 0 = no evangelism activities, 10 = frequent evangelism activities 7.4 8.4 8.4
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 20 To really clarify the level of commitment to developing youth leaders, churches were asked to share information about the percentage of youth with a leadership role in ministry. Youth in Church Leadership Roles Attendance: 1-250 Attendance: 251-500 Attendance: 501+ 22.2% None 14.8% 50+ 11.1% 26 to 50 8.0% 1 to 10 Percentage Involved: Age 13 16 12.0% None 20.0% 50+ Percentage Involved: Age 17 19 11.1% 1 to 10 40.7% 11 to 25 28.0% 11 to 25 32.0% 26 to 50 29.4% None 35.3% 1 to 10 5.9% Percentage Over 50 Involved: Age 13 16 17.6% 50+ 11.8% 11 to 25 17.6% 1 to 10 17.6% 50+ Percentage Involved: Age 17 19 41.2% 11 to 25 23.5% 26 to 50 11.1% None 22.2% 50+ Percentage Involved: Age 13 16 29.6% 1 to 10 37.0% 11 to 25 14.8% 33.3% 1 to 10 11 to 25 Percentage Involved: Age 17 19 11.1% 50+ 40.7% 26 to 50 Observations: Churches in Singapore, regardless of size, are working hard to train up the next generation, placing a strong emphasis on training youth to serve the church. Older youth (ages 17 to 19) are being placed in leadership roles more often than their younger peers (ages 13 to 16). Medium and Small churches were the only churches to place the highest (more than 50%) proportion of younger youth in leadership roles.
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 21 Holistic Ministry It is amazing how a gentle hand, clean clothes and a good meal can open hungry hearts to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our Lord demonstrates for us that providing for the practical, daily requirements of the whole person is a direct path to Spiritual restoration. Ministries that are providing Holistic Ministry services are meeting a critical need as the hands and feet of the Lord. To evaluate holistic outreach efforts by churches and Christian organizations in Singapore, we considered six activities. Singapore s churches and Christian organizations were asked about the importance they attributed to these five outreach activities: Literacy programs Orphan care Life skills training Conflict resolution Sex education Importance of Holistic Ministry by Organization Type : Importance Literacy Programs Orphan Care : Importance 2.8 Literacy 2.5 2.5 Programs Orphan Care 1.8 Life Skills Training 2.9 Life Skills Training 3.1 Conflict Resolution 3.8 Conflict Youth with Leadership ResolutionRoles 2.2 Sex Education 3.1 Sex Education 3.8 : Importance Literacy Programs 2.3 Christian Organizations: Importance 2.4 Literacy Programs Orphan Care 3.1 Orphan Care 3.2 Life Skills Training 3.9 Life Skills Training 4.7 Conflict Resolution 4.2 Conflict Youth with Leadership ResolutionRoles 4.2 Sex Education 3.8 Sex Education 4.0
How Ministries Are Connecting with Young Audiences 22 To further evaluate the breadth of Holistic Ministry in Singapore, churches were asked to share additional information surrounding how often they provide activities designed to train children and/or youth in social outreach: Encourages children and youth to be involved in social outreach Frequency of Holistic Ministry Activities by Organization Type : Frequency Teaching Social Outreach : Frequency 3.8 Teaching Social Outreach 5.4 : Frequency Teaching Social Outreach 5.3 Note: All scores are delivered on a 10-point scale. Frequency of Holistic Ministry Activities by Location Type : Frequency : Frequency 4.1 4.0 2.8 3.0 Urban 3.0 Urban 1.2 : Frequency Christian Organizations: Frequency 3.8 3.7 4.0 4.6 Urban 4.1 Urban 2.5 Note: All scores are delivered on a 10-point scale. Observations: Teaching social outreach was the highest ranked Holistic Ministry activity for each church size. Life skills training was the highest ranked activity for Christian organizations. Medium and Small churches, found more often in Housing, appear to keep the focus of their Holistic Ministry activities in those areas; Large churches, also found more often in Heartland areas, spread their Holistic Ministry activities more evenly across Heartland, and locales.
Ministries that Click-to-Connect 23 In Singapore, household access to the Internet rose to 88% in 2014 and mobile phone penetration hit 148% (meaning people use more than one device). Clearly Singapore is a very digitally connected nation. With numbers like this, it s not surprising to find that the use of technology among children and youth in Singapore is also on the rise. It s a trend that requires attention. Today, ministries are, more than ever, reaching young people in relevant ways through high-tech connection. Value of Technology To evaluate how churches and Christian organizations view technology as a communications tool, OneHope asked each to consider the value of digital technologies for ministry to children and youth in their communities. Digital technologies were specified as texting, email, social media, websites or blogs, etc. The results indicate that churches of all sizes placed a similar high value on using these technologies to communicate with youth. Not surprisingly, when it came to children, churches did not value the technology as much. Yet, as church size increased, the value increased. No such change was seen across location types. Technology Value by Organization Type 7.1 Christian Organizations 7.1 0 2 4 6 8 10 Technology Value by Population Density/Ministry Location 3.9 5.3 6.0 7.3 7.8 8.1 Youth Children Heartland/HBD Housing 5.3 7.6 Youth Children Location 5.5 7.8 4.8 8.3 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 = low value of technology 10 = high value of technology
Ministries that Click-to-Connect 24 Access to Technology Children in Singapore have the greatest access to communications technology through easy Internet access. Small and Medium churches reported 100% of their young constituents have access to the Internet. Youth access is greater across technologies, particularly with mobile phones with data plans, where access is almost as great as home Internet access. This pattern holds true across location types. Children s Access by Organization Type and Population Density Mobile Phone with Data Plan 5.0 Mobile Phone, No Data Plan 5.5 Internet Access 7.9 4.0 4.8 3.9 5.0 8.1 8.8 5.0 4.2 5.0 4.7 8.1 7.6 4.8 Christian Organizations 5.0 5.4 Christian Organizations 6.4 8.3 Christian Organizations 7.1 Geographic Location Ministry Size 0 = low access to technology 10 = high access to technology Youth Access by Organization Type and Population Density Mobile Phone with Data Plan 9.0 Mobile Phone, No Data Plan 5.3 Internet Access 9.5 8.9 9.6 4.1 4.1 9.4 10.0 8.4 8.6 5.0 4.3 10.0 9.6 9.7 Christian Organizations 7.9 4.4 Christian Organizations 5.0 10.0 Christian Organizations 8.6 Geographic Location Ministry Size 0 = low access to technology 10 = high access to technology
Ministries that Click-to-Connect 25 Use of Technology There is no clear favorite technology for organizations communicating with children. Christian organizations use websites far more often than do churches. The use of other technologies were found to increase with church size, but all saw similar trends with usage. Use of almost every communication type increased for youth. Social media increased the most, but WhatsApp scored the highest overall. Church use of technology to communicate is higher for youth than for children across most organization types and locations. Technology Used to Reach Children by Organization and Population Website 1.7 Email 3.2 Texting 3.8 0.9 3.1 2.5 4.4 3.8 5.2 2.2 2.1 3.8 3.8 5.0 4.3 2.3 Christian Organizations 6.9 4.6 Christian Organizations 5.6 5.2 Christian Organizations 3.7 WhatsApp 2.9 Social Media 2.5 3.7 4.8 2.5 3.7 4.7 5.3 2.8 3.5 5.5 Christian Organizations 5.0 3.8 Christian Organizations 5.6 Technology Used to Reach Youth by Organization and Population Website 4.8 Email 7.1 Texting 6.3 3.2 2.7 5.4 5.2 5.7 7.2 2.7 4.2 5.6 5.7 7.3 6.8 4.3 Christian Organizations 6.9 6.6 Christian Organizations 5.6 8.1 Christian Organizations 5.0 WhatsApp 8.8 Social Media 7.4 9.3 9.6 7.9 8.7 10.0 9.6 8.4 8.5 9.7 Christian Organizations 7.5 8.6 Christian Organizations 7.5
Connecting the Dots, Illuminating the Needs 26 To understand how churches in Singapore can better reach their communities, we asked them to describe their greatest needs and obstacles in ministry to children and youth. Churches indicated that family involvement and stable leadership were their greatest needs for both children and youth. The two biggest obstacles in ministry was again the same for both age groups the demands of school and the influence of secular values. Church Needs for Ministry to Children 75+ families to +25LChristian 48+ 35+ 7+ 74.7% 48.0% 34.7% 6.7% be actively involved in the nurturing process at home +52LAdvocacy and vision for children s ministry understanding of children s family/ social situations +65LBetter materials or curriculum in our language +93LMore 70+ 40+ 33+ 33.3% 69.3% 40.0% +30LStable and committed children s leaders intergenerational integration +60LGreater or curriculum with contextualized content +67LMaterials 56+ 39+ 38.7% 33+ 56.0% 33.3% for volunteers and/or staff +44LTraining of church leaders +61LSupport knowledge of children s ministry best practices +67LBetter 52+ volunteers 52.0% +48LMore 38+ of psychosocial 37.3% development of children 8+ 8.0% +92LFinances +62LBetter understanding Church Needs for Ministry to Youth 73+ and committed youth leaders +27LStable 73.3% 38+ 69+ families to +31LChristian 69.3% be actively involved in the nurturing process at home 44+ of church leaders +56LSupport 44.0% 33+ 42+ understanding of youth culture +58LBetter 42.7% 37.3% 32+ 32.0% 20+ +80LFinances and vision for youth ministry +62LAdvocacy knowledge of youth ministry best practices +68LBetter 38+ 37.3% 27+ 26.7% 7+ 20.0% 6.7% intergenerational integration +62LGreater understanding of psychosocial development of youth +73LBetter materials or curriculum in our language +93LMore 33.3% 24+ 24.0% for volunteers and/or staff +67LTraining or curriculum with contextualized content +76LMaterials 33+ 33.3% understanding of youth s family/social situations +67LBetter 24+ volunteers 24.0% +76LMore
Connecting the Dots, Illuminating the Needs 27 Church Obstacles to Ministry to Children 64+ of school (homework, tuition CCAs) +36LDemands 28+ 64.0% 28.0% +72LLack of support from Christian families 21+ parents 21.3% +79LAbsentee 55+ of secular +45LInfluence 54.7% 21+ 21.3% values 28+ of facilities/space 28.0% +72LLack little understanding of how today s children think and behave +79LToo 38+ of volunteers 37.3% +62LLack 25+ lack training 25.3% +75LTeachers 20+ of intergenerational 20.0% integration +80LLack 30+ distracted by mobile devices +70LChildren 25+ 19+ 29.3% 25.3% 18.7% in transition from children s to youth ministries +75LLost leaders out of touch with emerging social trends +81LMinistry Additional obstacles to ministry to children include: lack of creative teaching and engaging learning: 18.7%, lack of support from church leadership: 16.0%, video game addiction among children: 16.0%, children s leader burnout: 13.3%, lack of contextualized curriculum: 12.0%, little attention given to children with special needs: 12.0%, opposition from non-christian families: 10.7%, too much focus on activities: 9.3%, dwindling numbers: 9.3%, high turnover of leaders: 8.0%, focus on developing programs and not the children: 8.0%, children come from broken families: 6.7%, lack of godly models in church: 6.7%, lack of focus on Biblical foundations: 6.7%, exposure to pornography at an early age: 4.0%, language barriers: 4.0%, difficulty accessing ministry location: 0.0%, and overwhelming growth in numbers: 0.0%. Church Obstacles to Ministry to Youth 76+ of school (homework, tuition CCAs) +24LDemands 39+ 31+ 76.0% 38.7% 30.7% +61LLack of support from Christian families in transition from youth to young adult ministries +69LLost 64+ of secular +36LInfluence 64.0% values 36+ of godly models in church 36.0% +64LLack 28+ leader burnout 28.0% +72LYouth 59+ of youth mentors 58.7% +41LLack 36+ 36.0% 27+ 28.0% +64LBiblical illiteracy among the youth +73LYouth distracted by mobile devices 42+ among the +58LApathy 32+ 25+ 41.3% 32.0% 26.7% youth leaders lack training +68LYouth cliques and conflicts +75LIngroup Additional obstacles to ministry to youth include: too much autonomy, lack of accountability among the youth: 25.3%, lack of creative teaching and engaging learning: 24.0%, too little understanding of how today s youth think and behave: 22.7%, loss of confidence in Christianity: 20.0%, video game addiction among youth: 20.0%, lack of intergenerational integration: 20.0%, lack of facilities/space: 20.0%, lost in transition from children s to youth ministries: 17.3%, dwindling numbers: 17.3%, no safe spaces to express doubts about the Christian faith: 16.0%, sleep deprivation among the youth: 14.7%, focus on developing programs and not the youth: 14.7%, pornography among the youth: 13.3%, sexual sin among the youth: 13.3%, lack of focus on Biblical foundations: 13.3%, too much focus on activities: 13.3%, youth come broken, vulnerable and fragile: 12.0%, conflict in the family: 12.0%, high turnover of leaders: 12.0%, opposition from non-christian families: 10.7%, ministry leaders out of touch with emerging social trends: 9.3%, lack of contextualized curriculum: 9.3%, abuse of power by ministry leaders: 6.7%, languages barriers: 4.0%, little attention given to persons with special needs: 2.7%, difficulty accessing ministry location: 2.7%, and overwhelming growth in numbers: 0.0%.
Gospel Reach in Singapore 28 The Great Commission calls us to share the Gospel message with the world, but how is it spreading among children and youth in Singapore? It s an important question! To measure Gospel Reach, churches were asked about three specific categories of interaction: 1. Engagement any interaction with the organization 2. Reach any interaction where the Gospel was presented 3. New Reach the church s first interaction with a child or youth where the Gospel was presented Reach of Churches On average, churches in Singapore are each reaching 143 children and 81 youth per year with the Gospel. Of these, 42 and 32, respectively, were reported as first-time interactions between the child or youth and the church. 120 115 82 80 66 74 69 44 49 40 32 23 19 21 11 0 Engagement: Reporting churches interact with an average of 307 children and youth annually. Reach: Of these, 224 are engaged with the Gospel. New Reach: 74 of these are first-time Gospel presentations to the child or youth by the church. Younger Children (5 9) Older Children (10 12) Younger Youth (13 16) Older Youth (17 19)
Gospel Reach in Singapore 29 Average Gospel Reach and New Gospel Reach to Children by Organization and Location 28 43 a+92+39+56+100+3+21 Younger Children (5 9) Gospel Reach 121 131 51 a+73+27+61+73+19+50 74 Older Children (10 12) Gospel Reach 65 25 96 96 36 80 9 12 a+23+11+21+32+9+7 Younger Children (5 9) New Gospel Reach 30 42 14 a+20+6+18+21+5+12 27 Older Children (10 12) New Gospel Reach 16 6 26 27 8 23
Gospel Reach in Singapore 30 Average Gospel Reach and New Gospel Reach to Youth by Organization and Location 13 23 a+19+59+32+88+18+10 Younger Youth (13 16) Gospel Reach 25 115 77 a+15+29+25+50+12+11 42 Older Youth (17 19) Gospel Reach 15 16 20 66 38 33 4 5 a+5+32+11+43+4+3 Younger Youth (13 16) New Gospel Reach 6 56 42 a+5+11+8+17+3+5 15 Older Youth (17 19) New Gospel Reach 6 4 6 22 15 10 Observations: Reach generally increases with church size. Reach and New Reach to children increase from to to. For youth they increase from to to locales (highest).
Appendix Participating Organizations by Denominational Bloc 125 churches and Christian organizations participated in this survey. 31 Church Percentage Methodist 20.7% Independent 14.9% Anglican 14.0% Baptist 11.6% Assemblies of God 9.1% Brethren 5.8% Presbyterian 5.8% Other 5.8% Bible Presbyterian 3.3% Evangelical Free 3.3% Lutheran 1.7% Pentecostal 1.7% Apostolic.8% CNEC.8% Church of Singapore.8%
Appendix 32 Participating Organizations Perceived Strengths Representatives from churches and Christian organizations were asked, What would you describe as the strength of your ministry? The top 34 responses were mentioned at least twice. Strength Mentions Leaders, Leadership 32 Staff, Teachers 28 Biblical Focus, Study 27 Community, Closeness 25 Youth Participation, Service 20 Volunteers 18 Curriculum 12 Supportive Parents 11 Acceptance, Openness to Outsiders 10 Discipleship Focus 10 Creativity 9 Mentoring, Individual Attention 9 Vision, Direction 9 Relationships 8 Worship 8 Youth Leaders 8 Breadth - Intergenerational, Cross-Cultural, etc. 5 Church Support 5 Finance and Resources, Facilities 5 Music, Musicians 5 Prayer 5 Training, Leadership Development 5 Evangelism Focus 4 Integrating Kids into the Church 4 Missions 4 Outreach Focus 4 Relevance 4 Spirit-Dependency, Reliance, Encounters 4 Stability 4 Commitment 3 Connecting with, Serving the Community 3 Flexibility 3 Organizational Partnership 3 Experience, Heritage 2
Appendix 33 Church Service Languages Nearly all respondents indicated that they offered English language services. More than half also held Chinese language services, and another 28% indicated services in another language. Language Percent English 96.8% Chinese 54.0% Other 22.2% Indian 5.6% Churches with Services in Specific Languages When asked for further detail, churches indicated services in the following languages: Language Number Mandarin 15 Cantonese 9 Hokkien 8 Bahasa/Indonesian 7 Filipino 5 Tamil 5 Tagalog 3 Perankan 2 Hinghwa 2 Teochow 2 Vietnamese 1 Foochow 1 Korean 1 Malayam 1
Appendix 34 Church Ministry Participation by Age and Gender Churches were asked which age groups and genders participated more often in their ministries to children and youth. Reported ministry participation by age favors younger (ages 5 to 9) over older (ages 10 to 12) children across church sizes. This may not be significant as younger children includes five ages (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) while older children includes only three ages (10, 11, 12). Youth participation is more balanced between younger and older youth. Participation by gender is relatively balanced. In your ministry to children, which of these age groups has the most participants? Select only one. Ages 5 9 Ages 10 12 Well Balanced (1-250) 44.4% 3.7% 51.9% (251-500) 52.9% 5.9% 41.2% (501+) 45.2% 0.0% 54.8% Christian Organizations 62.5% 0.0% 37.5% Which gender(s) most often participates in your ministry to children? Mostly or All Boys Mostly or All Girls Well Balanced (1-250) 18.5% 18.5% 63% (251-500) 0.0% 23.5% 76.5% (501+) 0.0% 9.7% 90.3% Christian Organizations 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% In your ministry to youth, which of these age groups has the most participants? Select only one. Ages 13 16 Ages 17 19 Well Balanced (1-250) 28.6% 21.4% 50.0% (251-500) 35.3% 23.5% 41.2% (501+) 27.6% 13.8% 58.6% Christian Organizations 25.0% 25.0% 50.0% Which gender(s) most often participates in your ministry to youth? Mostly or All Boys Mostly or All Girls (1-250) 21.4% 10.7% 67.9% (251-500) 17.6% 29.4% 52.9% (501+) 3.4% 0.0% 96.6% Christian Organizations 12.5% 12.5% 75.0% Well Balanced
Appendix 35 Ministries to Watch Ministries naturally look to other like-minded organizations for best practices. For this reason, we wanted to identify which ministries are most respected, knowledgeable or influential in working with children and youth in Singapore. We also wanted to discover unique niche ministries that are bringing creativity into their work. In this study, organizations were asked to name the most effective/influential organizations ministering to children and youth in Singapore. We also asked them to name the most innovative/ creative organizations doing the same. The 110 surveyed churches offered 344 submissions, yielding 32 nominations with two or more mentions. All of those nominated for innovation/creativity were also nominated for effectiveness/ influence at least once (noted here as both ). Two-thirds were cited as partnering with the surveyed/nominating church at a rate of 50% or higher. % of Naming Organization Name Nominated As Mentions who also Partner Scripture Union both 60 68% Youth for Christ Singapore both 41 63% Cru both 26 35% Child Evangelism Fellowship both 24 67% Arise both 14 64% Youth with a Mission effective/influential 13 46% Navigators effective/influential 10 30% Victory Family Center, The Edge effective/influential 9 33% Heart of God Church effective/influential 8 38% Royal Rangers Singapore both 7 71% The Bible Society of Singapore effective/influential 6 100% Evangelism Explosion (Hope for Kids) both 6 67% Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) effective/influential 5 20% Focus on the Family both 5 100% City Harvest effective/influential 5 0% Boys/Girls Brigade both 4 50% Hope Church Singapore effective/influential 4 0% Alpha Singapore both 3 100% Overflow Kids both 3 100% Truthmin effective/influential 3 100% Living Word Ltd both 3 67% New Creation Church both 3 0% Children's Bible Ministries effective/influential 2 100% Global Day of Prayer both 2 100% TRAC Board of Children's Ministry both 2 100% 4/14 Window both 2 50% Evangelism Equipping Mission (Singapore) effective/influential 2 50% Fellowship of Christian Athletes effective/influential 2 50%
Appendix 36 Organization Name Nominated As Mentions % of Naming who also Partner Ignite Alliance/Youth Network effective/influential 2 50% Nicholas Choo effective/influential 2 50% Awana both 2 0% Lifeway Group effective/influential 2 0%
Appendix 37 Popular Curricula and Publishers To develop an effective resource list, churches were asked to name the best tools or curricula for ministry to children and youth in Singapore. These eight unique curriculum options were identified most frequently by the surveyed churches. Focus Curriculum Name Mentions Produced by outreach Alpha Course, Youth Alpha 9 Alpha International/Singapore outreach Hope for Kids 7 OneHope outreach Wordless Book 5 Child Evangelism Fellowship both Character First! 4 Character Training Institute both Firm Foundation 4 NTM both On the Way 4 Christian Focus Publication both Radiant Life 4 Gospel Publishing House both Bible-In-Life 3 David C. Cook These 20 publishers were named most frequently by the surveyed churches. Focus Publisher Name Mentions both DiscipleLand 15 both Child Evangelism Fellowship 13 both Gospel Light 12 both Lifeway 11 outreach Alpha International/Singapore 9 outreach OneHope 7 both David C. Cook 7 both Group Publishing 7 both Navigators 5 both Character Training Institute 4 both NTM 4 both Christian Focus Publication 4 both Gospel Publishing House 4 both Lorna Jenkins 4 outreach EE International 4 both FCBC 3 both Royal Rangers 3 both Scripture Union 3 both Children's Bible Ministries, Singapore 3 outreach Evangelism Equipping Mission (Singapore) 3