Main languages:
Chinese, Malay, Tamil, English

Main religions:
Chinese folk religion, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism

Government:
Independent republic since 1965. Officially a multi-party democracy. However, the People's Action Party, with 95% of the members of the national assembly, has been in charge over the past 30 years and effectively controls politics and the economy.

National and community concerns:
• Youth drawn towards materialism.
• Delinquency among girls is rising.
• Much pressure to succeed in education.
• Easily absorbed non-Christian values coming through the media.
• Rising number of senior citizens.
• Christians need to be more involved in community activities to show concern for the nation.

Church programmes and priorities:
• The PCS work has four key strands: worship, Christian education, congregational care, and mission and evangelism.
• Welfare programmes are run through the Presbyterian welfare services.
• The PCS also has two primary and two secondary schools.
• It is a founding member of Trinity Theological College and supports Singapore Bible College.
• More church planting and mission involvement locally and cross-culturally.
• More full-time staff.

Members/Congregations:
12,000/42

Women's representation in church:
• Increasing number of women in ministry, both full-time and part-time in local congregations.
• Representation in synod and presbyteries increasing.

Youth activities:
• Most churches have youth fellowship groups and seek to reach out to their unchurched peers.
• Some work with parachurch organisations focused on youth outreach.
• Creative programmes are needed to counter secular distractions.

Missionaries sent and received through CWM:
• Graham Ng, mission enabler, to the Presbyterian Church of Wales.

For more information: Richard Chong, executive administrator, Presbyterian Church in Singapore, Synod Office, 132 Sophia Road, Singapore 228186, Republic of Singapore.
Tel: +65 6 338 5837  Fax: +65 6 339 4076  Email: richard@presbysing.org.sg

Website:
www.presbysing.org.sg (Presbyterian Church in Singapore)

Prayer requests:
Give thanks for:
• The combined worship service which celebrated 120 years of the PCS in April 2001.
• The fundraising programmes for the mission schools and the theological seminary.

Pray for:
• Unity to grow through the synod theme: “United in love and service”.
• The resources needed to train more full-time pastors and missionaries.
• The Presbyterian Community Services, working with children, the elderly and youth at risk.
• Greater cooperation between the English and Chinese presbyteries.
• More staff for the synod office to provide better communication between the churches.